"Republican James S. Gilmore III and Democrat Mark R. Warner vigorously and repeatedly attacked each other on energy, fiscal responsibility and truthfulness Saturday in their first debate in the race for U.S. Senate.

Gilmore occasionally raised his voice while accusing Warner of being a "typical Washington politician" who hid crucial information from Virginians and continues to change his positions.

"You can't trust what Mark Warner would do in the United States Senate," Gilmore said.

Warner accused Gilmore of name-calling and gimmicks and of misrepresenting both candidates' records.

"I am anxious for the people of Virginia to decide who they trust more," Warner said.

Gilmore and Warner, both former governors, are running to replace Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), who is retiring. It is a closely watched race that could help determine whether Virginia's gradual shift toward Democratic statewide candidates is solidifying.

More than three months before the Nov. 4 election, Warner has a big lead in polls and fundraising. Gilmore, who barely won his party's nomination six weeks ago, had much more riding on the debate and sought to prove that he can compete with his popular rival.

Their sharp differences in leadership style and on the issues were clear as the candidates traded negative remarks early in the debate.

Gilmore, who served from 1998 until 2002, and Warner, who replaced him, clashed on such topics as taxes and spending, the Iraq war, the Supreme Court confirmation process and children's health insurance. But much of the 75-minute debate focused on the nation's growing energy crisis.

Gilmore insisted that the only way to reduce the price of gas is to drill along the nation's coastlines and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

"Someone has to do something for these people out there," Gilmore said. "People out there are hurting. People can't pay their bills. We've got to help the people who are in trouble. The best way we are going to do that is bring that oil in."

Warner, whose energy plan calls for getting tougher with OPEC and increasing regulation on investors who speculate in the oil market, did not rule out more drilling. He has said that he is skeptical of drilling for oil offshore, but during the debate he said he would support a bill to lift the moratorium on drilling and allow states to decide.

Later, when pressed by reporters, Warner said he would support drilling off Virginia once "environmental standards" were met, but he did not elaborate.

"Where I strongly differ from Jim Gilmore's position is that somehow that is the silver bullet that is going to solve all the nation's energy problems," Warner said.

Gilmore accused Warner of flip-flopping on energy.

"He's talking on both sides of this issue," Gilmore said. "He's all over the map."

The debate, held at the Homestead resort in the Allegheny Mountains, was attended by a few hundred people and was not televised. The Virginia Bar Association continued its decades-long tradition of hosting an early debate in statewide political contests, which often sets the tone for the rest of the campaign. The debate was moderated by David Broder of The Washington Post.

Warner asked why Gilmore opposed implementing the Children's Health Insurance Program, which helps poor families provide coverage for their children. Gilmore, in one of his stronger moments, turned the question back on Warner by accusing him of supporting a nationalized health-care system.

"When you get to the United States Senate, will you be supporting Barack Obama's health care plan, or will you be supporting John McCain and myself and a private [health care] plan?" Gilmore asked.

Warner, who has tried to campaign as a candidate who can work with both parties, largely steered clear of talking about Obama, the likely Democratic presidential candidate, although he frequently mentioned McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee.

A wealthy venture capitalist who co-founded Nextel, Warner, 53, is far ahead in fundraising. As of last month, he had $5 million in the bank. Gilmore, 58 and a former leader of the Republican National Committee, had $117,000.

During the debate, Warner accused Gilmore of being an ineffective governor and having strained relations with the General Assembly even though Republicans controlled both chambers.

"Your record has shown you can't even work with people in your own party," Warner said. "You were the only governor in all of Virginia history who couldn't even pass a budget."

Gilmore talked extensively about his efforts as attorney general and governor to work on issues important to African Americans, including fighting to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with a state holiday and leading a nationwide response to a rash of church burnings across the South. He also said he worked with Maryland's governor to build a new Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

"My record is one of success, and that is a reality," Gilmore said.

The candidates blamed each other for the state's past financial problems.

Gilmore won the governor's seat after promising to eliminate the personal property tax that Virginia cities and counties levy on vehicles, a key source of revenue for local governments. Warner blamed Gilmore for underestimating the impact of the tax cut on services and contributing to a state budget shortfall that eventually topped $6 billion.

"We had a Jim Gilmore gimmick in the past, and it drove Virginia into the fiscal ditch," Warner said. With help from moderate Republicans, Warner pushed through a $1.4 billion tax increase in 2004 to balance the budget and preserve money for education and social services. Gilmore accused Warner of ignoring the state's improving economic conditions in 2004 so he could justify the tax increase.

"Why didn't you tell the people of Virginia what you knew and what you were being told by your own people?" Gilmore asked." (Anita Kumar and Tim Craig, The Washington Post, July 20, 2008)