Kaine, Allen debate final time at VT

WAVY TV

Updated: Oct 18, 2012 9:37 PM

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — The two rivals vying for a U.S. Senate seat in Virginia have ended their fifth and final debate with spirited clashes over what consequences their policies would have on the military.

Republican George Allen and Democrat Tim Kaine also differed greatly over economic, health care and energy policy Thursday night in what turned out to be the most personal of all the debates.

As he has for months, Allen tried again to back Kaine into a corner over his support for the 2011 bipartisan compromise that raised the nation's debt limit conditioned on $1.5 billion in subsequent deficit reductions.

Kaine uncoiled on Allen, rejecting his claim that troops and defense industry jobs are being used as bargaining chips.

The election's outcome could determine partisan control of the Senate.

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