The audience that filled most of the 420-seat Newberry Opera House on Monday night for the third in a series of debates between the 5th Congressional District candidates was not as boisterous as the one at a similar meeting last month in Rock Hill. But afterward, both sides agreed the tenor of the discussion was far more combative.

Spratt, the York Democrat who has held the seat since 1982, wasted little time going after his opponent's voting record, saying in his opening statement that he looked forward to hearing Norman explain how school vouchers and private Social Security accounts would be good for the country.

Norman, a first-term state legislator from Rock Hill, handed it right back, decrying what he called a liberal slant that makes Spratt more aligned with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi than the 38,000 residents of Newberry County.

On illegal immigration

Among the top issues during the 90-minute debate was illegal immigration, a subject Norman and other Republican challengers have seized on in recent weeks with written statements and television commercials.

In voicing support for a 700-mile fence along the Mexican border and his opposition to amnesty for illegal aliens, Norman said Spratt has failed to sponsor any legislation to address the issue. Talking about the flood of immigrants into the country, Norman said he was visiting a hospital in Newberry recently when he saw "four or five filling up the lobby that I assume were illegals."

"You keep saying I haven't done anything," said Spratt, adding that last week alone, he voted in favor of three measures passed by the House that are aimed at curbing illegal immigration, including the 700-mile fence. "Bear in mind, the Republicans control the White House and both houses of Congress. That's why nothing is happening."

On Iraq

On the subject of Iraq, Spratt reiterated a position he has held for months: "We've got to be telling the Iraqi people every day, we're here for a positive outcome. We tell them we're not going to leave immediately, but neither are we going to stay indefinitely."

Norman, who favors letting military commanders make decisions on when to start leaving, argued that Spratt would be obliged to vote with "pullout supporters like Pelosi" if the Democrats regain control of Congress. To that, Spratt responded, "The speaker does not have the power to pull the troops out . . . What you're saying is absurd."

While the town of Newberry's population has hovered around 10,000 for years, the county is experiencing spinoff growth from Columbia a half-hour south. Many newcomers are affluent commuters moving to the upscale subdivisions going up around Lake Murray, and Norman is hoping to gain enough support to swing the county in his favor.

"It's not about you, Congressman," Norman said. "It's not about getting your committee head or your seat at the table. It's who you're at the table with -- Nancy Pelosi, Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton . . . I will have the taxpayer at my table."

In 2000, President Bush campaigned at Newberry College -- the alma mater of the late Republican operative Lee Atwater -- and earned 59 percent of the vote. He upped it to 63 percent in 2004.

But this year, Republicans nationwide are facing a tougher climate, and Spratt said a vote for Norman would affirm the failed policies of the Bush White House. He pointed out improvements he has brought to the county, including funding for a senior housing project and even money to refurbish the theater where Monday's debate was held.

"Ralph's posters say it's time for a change," Spratt said. "If you really want change, we need to go from one-party government back to a system of checks and balances. Rubber stamps are not what I mean."

The two candidates said few words to each other as they left the stage, but they will face off again Thursday in Sumter.