Altercation outside senate debate, jabs inside

Add Us On GoogleAdd as a preferred source on Google

By Elizabeth Donatelli - bio | email

LEXINGTON, KY (WAVE) - The final debate for Kentucky's U.S. Senate seat was more gentlemanly than the last, but not without its blows. Host Bill Goodman opened the debate on KET describing the 2010 campaign season as expensive, nasty, and weird. Both candidates squared off in a debate that not only aired in Kentucky, but across the country on C-SPAN.

There was a lot of hype leading up to the debate after a Jack Conway attack ad questioned Rand Paul's faith and an alleged college prank. Paul fired back with an ad of his own calling Conway shameful. The Oct. 25 debate was more cordial than the previous debate, but there were still a series of jabs.

"I do know in Kentucky that Kentuckians know you don't attack a man's dog and you don't attack a man's horse. But I will say this..." Conway began before Paul interrupted him.

"You can't attack a man's religion," said Paul referring to a recent Conway attack ad.

"I questioned your actions Rand," Conway replied. "I questioned your actions, not your faith."

"Yeah, right," said Paul.

Then the two went after each other for comments made on national news shows.

"I watched on MSNBC 20 of the most painful and embarrassing moments I've ever seen on national TV as my opponent questioned fundamental provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964," said Conway.

Conway was referring to an interview Paul did on "The Rachael Maddow Show" just after the primary.

"The 20 most painful minutes on MSNBC were Chris Matthews and Jack when Jack said he wanted to attack my religion, so I think we have a little bit of a disagreement there and boy wasn't that a squirm fest," said Paul.

Paul was referring to a recent interview Conway did on Chris Matthew's "Hardball."

The candidates did talk about the issues too. Conway supports healthcare reform, but wants to see some changes. Paul wants to start over.

The subject of abortion also came up - Paul is pro-life, while Conway is pro-choice.

Conway says Wall Street needs to be regulated. Paul countered that such regulation could be "very dangerous" to the economy.

There was also drama outside the studio as a woman who aligned herself with liberal group MoveOn.org approached Paul as he arrived. Paul supporters then pushed her away and took her to the ground.

After the the liberal activist - who was wearing a blonde wig - was wrestled to the ground, one of Paul's supporters briefly stepped on her head.

Lauren Valle, says she was sore and swollen Tuesday morning after the scuffle. She told reporters she was trying to give Paul a fake "Employee of the Month" award.

Paul's campaign released a statement calling the altercation "incredibly unfortunate" and expressed relief that the woman was not injured.

Conway said he was shocked to see the video footage.

Valle was detained by police, but not arrested.