The candidates for Pennsylvania's contested Senate seat sat inches apart from one another to battle out the issues Sunday morning on Meet the Press.
The debate - covering issues from the Iraq war to birth control - lasted an hour, and the candidates had plenty of material to fill it.
The war, however, was the primary topic of contention between Republican Sen. Rick Santorum and the Democratic challenger, state Treasurer Bob Casey.
In talking about the war, Casey called for "accountability" and "a change in tactics" in Iraq
Santorum argued that there has been too much focus on that war, rather than on a "broad war against Islamic fascism," and pin-pointed Iran as America's most relevant and imminent security threat.
Both candidates also showed a willingness to go on the offensive during the debate. Santorum called Casey's strategies for solving the Social Security crisis weak, while Casey attacked Santorum for his close allegiance to President Bush.
Both candidates were quick to declare victory after the debate aired.
John Brabender, a spokesman with the Santorum campaign, said there was a "clear distinction between the two candidates," saying that Santorum made direct responses to questions, while Casey used indistinct language.
Casey supporters, contrarily, have said that their candidate showed he has the new ideas and new direction to win in November, according to his campaign Web site. Santorum, Casey supporters charge, reiterated his strong support for President Bush and what they see as the failed policies of the past six years.
A poll conducted by USAToday/Gallup Polls prior to Labor Day weekend showed Casey leading Santorum by 18 percentage points among likely voters and 14 percentage points among registered voters.
This race is considered among the most important in the nation for Democrats in their efforts to reclaim the Senate in November's mid-term elections.
The show was the first in a series of six senatorial debates moderated by Tim Russert that will air on the NBC show.
Meet the Press, which began airing in 1947 features interviews with various newsmakers every Sunday morning.
An average of 5 million viewers tune in each week, according to the show's Web site.
