The debate, on air in the Columbia area, lasted an hour and covered topics ranging from the war in Iraq to jobs in South Carolina.

The former governor finished first in the primary with 37 percent of the vote. DeMint finished second with 27 percent.

With just a week to go until Republican voters decide who will challenge Democrat Inez Tenenbaum for longtime Democratic Sen. Fritz Hollings' seat, both Beasley and DeMint wasted no time in outlining their plans of attack.

For Beasley, the issue is unfair trade practices. For DeMint, it's the former governor's history of "flip-flopping" on major issues.

"I think it was pretty clear by the way they returned to these subjects over and over, that both men think they will be the ones to resonate with voters," said Neal Thigpen, Francis Marion University political science professor.

Beasley and DeMint share much of the same conservative ideology. They do, however, differ on the issue of trade.

Beasley believes not enough is being done to protect America's trade interests abroad, and that is damaging American job prospects at home. DeMint said that less than 3 percent of job losses can be traced to such an issue and insists that the way to protect American jobs is with trade agreements.

One of the hardest jabs Tuesday came when the candidates watched a television ad for DeMint, in which two old men argue over whether Beasley is a "flip-flopper" or just "whishy-washy."

The ad brings up old issues for Beasley, who many say lost his bid for re-election in 1998 over changing his position on the issues of the Confederate flag and video poker.

Beasley bristled as the commercial came to an end and took DeMint to task for going negative and dredging up the past.

"The issue is not the flag," DeMint said. "The issue is David's tendency to change his position. I think people need to know we will do what we say we'll do."

Both men have spent the past week courting the region. DeMint received a boost when Thomas Ravenel immediately endorsed him.

On Tuesday, the Beasley camp released a list of Lowcountry legislators who support the former governor, including Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, and state Reps. Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island, Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, and Wallace Scarborough, R-Charleston. Former state Attorney General Charlie Condon, who finished a distant fourth, threw his support behind the former governor, as well.

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