Debates Intensify O'Donnell-Coons Senate Race
It has been an intense 24 hours in Delaware.
"A vote for my opponent will cost the average Delaware family instantly about $10,000," said Tea Party Republican Christine O'Donnell.
O'Donnell is trailing in the polls by 19 points and tried out a range of attacks on Thursday, before the Rotary Club in Wilmington, and Wednesday night at the University of Delaware.
"I simply suggest that Ms. O'Donnell work harder to get her facts straight," said her opponent, Democrat Chris Coons.
"How do you think you did last night?" CBS News Congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes asked O'Donell.
"I think we did well," she said. "I think we exposed a lot about my opponent's corrupt record as county executive."
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O'Donnell even called Coons, who runs one of Delaware's three counties, a closet Marxist.
"That should send chills up the spine of every Delaware voter," O'Donnell said.
But Coons disagreed.
"I am not now nor have I ever been anything but a clean-shaven capitalist!" Coon said to laughter.
The intense national scrutiny on this small state Senate race appears to be taking a toll on both candidates.
"Ms. O'Donnell, we're going to try to have a conversation here this evening, rather than just a diatribe if we possibly could," Coons said.
"I was actually really disappointed," said one University of Delaware student after watching the debate. "I didn't think either of the candidates acted very maturely."
"Much of what you put out is untrue," Coons said. "And if I keep correcting you we're not going to get anywhere."
"Students we spoke to thought you were condescending to Ms. O'Donnell and they couldn't figure out why, because you're so far ahead," Cordes said to Coons.
"I don't think that's right," Coons said. "I think I listened and I answered and was engaging."
O'Donnell's toughest moment came when she was asked to name a recent Supreme Court decision with which she disagreed.
"Oh gosh, give me a specific one," O'Donnell said. "I'm sorry."
It's a question that also tripped up her mentor, Sarah Palin.
O'Donnell said later she couldn't come up with an answer, because she agreed with so many decisions handed down by a court led by the conservative Justice John Roberts.
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