Candidates clash in final debate

CINCINNATI, Ohio (WDTN) - The final debate between Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Josh Mandel gave us much of what we have come to expect in this senatorial race in Ohio.

Mandel appeared to be more concerned with reiterating his catch phrases like "Washington speak" than answering the questions.

Chuck Todd of NBC News was the moderator and tried to get both candidates to answer the questions.

The men went back and forth, at one time Mandel even yielded his time to Senator Brown and did the asking.

They were asked if they thought there was common ground between them and though both said they'd be willing to work in a bi-partisan manner, it was clear they themselves did not share common ground. 

Senator Brown defended his voting record, voting 96% of the time with President Obama.  He also spoke much about the auto bailout and how important he believed it was to keeping Ohio alive economically.  On the issue of abortion, Brown said he was for women making their own choices.

Mandel said he believed only when the mother's life is a risk should abortion be allowed.  He called Brown the "bailout senator."  He said the fate of GM and Chrysler should have been kept in the private sector.  He never quite answered the question regarding his pledge to not raise taxes brought forth by a Washington insider.

Following the debate  the two candidates were supposed to make their way into a media room for questions by reporters who had not served on the panel during the debate.  That didn't happen.

Also the overseer of the event told reporters that during the short break around 7:30 p.m. Josh Mandel left the podium to get a touch-up from the makeup artist.  Brown's campaign was not happy because that apparently went against an agreement made before the debate even started that the two would remain in their spots during the intermission.