The most-anticipated debate of California's recall campaign quickly descended into a squabble of overlapping attacks, as the five leading candidates seeking to replace Governor Gray Davis clashed over the state's struggling economy and whether the circus-like process has been good for the state.
Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, a Democrat, came under attack for taking millions of dollars in Indian casino money.
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was criticized for supporting a divisive ballot initiative nine years ago that would have prevented services for the children of illegal immigrants.
State Senator Tom McClintock was told he had the facts backward on the economy, and independent Arianna Huffington was hit for barely paying income taxes.
Throughout the first half of Wednesday's debate, moderator Stan Statham of the California Broadcasters Association had to coax the candidates to stay on subject. At one point, Statham said he was dizzy from the quick, loud and aggressive banter.
Meanwhile, Green Party candidate Peter Camejo stayed above the fray, saying, "I'm trying to be respectful to everyone here."
The stakes were high for the debate, which was carried live on national cable television networks, including CNN, MSNBC and Fox. One in five voters in a recent poll was undecided, and two-thirds said they would be swayed by the face-off, which could be the most-watched debate in California political history.
It was the first and only debate so far for Schwarzenegger, who has been criticized for deliberately dodging more spontaneous candidate forums. He did not take part in earlier debates in which the questions were not provided in advance.
The debate had an element of the circus atmosphere that has helped define the campaign.
Huffington continuously targeted the administration of US President George W. Bush as the source of the state's problems, connecting Schwarzenegger to the president's policies.
The actor quickly shot back that she was in the wrong place. "If you want to campaign against Bush, go to New Hampshire," Schwarzenegger said, referring to the state holding the first presidential primary in 2004.
The tension between the two peaked when Schwarzenegger began to cut Huffington off and she replied, "This is the way you treat women, we know that. But not now."
Statham penalized Huffington and gave Schwarzenegger a chance to reply, providing another opening for one of his frequent movie references.
"I just realized that I have a perfect part for you in Terminator 4," he said to Huffington, as the audience laughed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is not Comedy Central," Statham said.
Except for Huffington, who defined her candidacy in contrast to others, the candidates avoided personal attacks in their closing statements and some even sounded a note of humility.
Schwarzenegger, a moderate Republican who shares more liberal social views, asked voters to support what he said was the biggest goal he had ever set for himself.
"This one is a little bit bigger than I am," the former Mr. Olympia said. "I need your help."
The debate ranged from questions on balancing the budget, whether the car tax should be repealed and what to do about health care.
The answers provided few surprises because the candidates have all staked out positions on the major issues, but the heated discussion gave the leading candidates among the 135 on the Oct. 7 ballot a chance to question each other and respond in the lively format.
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