Border security was among the most heated topics of an hourlong broadcast on the S.C. ETV network, with Norman accusing Spratt of failing to address a problem that has grown into a national crisis.

"You've been at the head of the table but you haven't been a leader," Norman said. "I'm tired of children going to our schools that can't speak English. ... It's not right for the American people to have to bear that burden."

Norman, a real estate developer from Rock Hill, has drawn criticism in recent weeks after saying that he does not require contractors at his job sites to check the status of their migrant laborers. Three contractors' employees at sites Norman is developing acknowledged to a reporter they are in the country illegally.

A Spratt ad that began airing two weeks ago labels Norman a hypocrite and says his company has been cited for violations by Hispanic employees, a claim Norman denied on Thursday.

"Keep running it because it's helping us out," said Norman, a first-term state legislator. "People are livid over you taking the liberty to do something that's not true."

Spratt, a York Democrat seeking his 13th term, said he didn't know for sure what Norman had been cited for. But Spratt pointed to the transcript of a 911 call in March in which an anonymous caller says Hispanics were burning materials at a Norman job site.

The ensuing citation didn't involve illegal immigrants.

Spratt said he plans to pull the ad soon to switch to a different topic, but not because it is inaccurate. He blamed the Republican-led White House and Congress for failing to fix the immigration problem.

Support for Pelosi, Hastert?

The two candidates have debated four times already and will meet again next week at a York County forum. But Thursday's exchange was unique because it aired in all 14 counties that make up South Carolina's largest geographic district.

The occasion was especially important for Norman, whose campaign will have less time on television than it originally hoped.

The National Republican Congressional Committee canceled three weeks of advertising it had reserved in the Charlotte market, a move that opponents say reflects pessimism about Norman's chances for victory.

With the Nov. 7 election less than three weeks away, Norman, 53, wasted little time in going on the offensive, pointing out that Spratt would vote for Nancy Pelosi as speaker if Democrats take back the House. Pelosi, D-Calif., is widely considered an ultra-liberal.

Spratt, 63, shot back by asking whether Norman would vote for Dennis Hastert, who has been criticized for his handling of the Mark Foley scandal. Foley is the disgraced Florida lawmaker who resigned and admitted to sending sexually explicit e-mails to young House pages. Earlier this year, Hastert headlined a fundraiser in Charlotte on Norman's behalf.

"Time will tell with Dennis Hastert," Norman said. "After they examine what he knew, when he knew it, he will be judged on that."

Differences over Iraq

In defending President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, Norman said mistakes have been made but added pulling out now would be even worse.

"The war in Iraq is one we're in, like it or not, and we've got to finish," he said.

Spratt was far more critical in his assessment, even as he voiced hope for a positive outcome.

"We can't say, 'stay the course' when it's not leading us to any clear results," he said. "I'm not for pulling out the troops precipitously. But we should start at the Department of Defense and consider pulling out (Defense Secretary Donald) Rumsfeld and (Vice President Dick) Cheney."

The two candidates sat at a studio desk for about 10 minutes before taping began but didn't speak to each other and seemed to avoid eye contact. When it was over, they shook hands and quickly left the stage.

For more news and notes from the campaign trail, see The Herald's "Election 2006 Blog" at http://community.heraldonline.com/

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