Meanwhile, the incumbent questioned Farrell's skills and said she lacked experience in government.

In the point she pushed with the most vigor, Farrell mocked the reports that Shays files with the Bush administration upon his return from each of his 14 trips to Iraq. The Democrat said she wanted to know why nothing much had changed in the war-torn country if he had done so much work.

And when Shays cited his report urging Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to resign, Farrell said it wasn't forceful enough. Besides highlighting his experience, Shays cited his integrity and willingness to break with the Republican leadership on major issues such as the environment.

Farrell said she represented a chance to be part of a change in Washington and a counterpoint to the GOP control of the Congress and the Bush presidency.

Libertarian Laughs

When it came to getting laughs, Phil Maymin, the Libertarian Party candidate, won hands down while still making points about his political philosophy.

He gained the attention of the audience of several hundred people at the Stamford Marriott when he said in his closing statement that immigration wasn't mentioned at all.

There was applause at times during the one-hour debate, although organizers had asked those attending the event to hold such demonstrations to the end of the session.

The debate started with questions about the resignation of former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley of Florida and the discovery of sexually explicit e-mails sent by him to a 16-year-old former page.

"It is absolutely reprehensible," said Farrell of the Foley case. She also has called upon House Speaker Dennis Hastert to quit his post. "There is one mistake, one scandal after another," she added.

Shays said those who knew of what was happening "should step down -- Democrats as well as Republicans."

When a second question was asked about whether Shays should return money Hastert helped raise for the congressman from Fairfield County, he replied: "Hastert is a very good and decent man. We don't know all of the facts yet."

In an earlier run for re-election, Hastert visited Shays when he launched his campaign at the government center in Stamford. However, nobody mentioned that Wednesday.

Regrets Over Hate

The discussion of the alleged scandal and the controversy over Foley and Hastert, led Shays to declare: "There is so much hate [in Washington]. I am tired of the hate." The remark led to the first round of applause at the debate.

Farrell countered: "To begin with, this is not a Democratic Party conspiracy. Dennis [Hastert] held back critical information."

An extensive exchange followed when Shays asked if Farrell was only critical of Republicans under suspicion and questioned if the Democrat challenger ever was critical of former Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, who now is serving prison time for municipal corruption.

Farrell claimed she had been critical, but Shays said he had never seen any newspaper accounts of her criticism of Ganim. Shays asked: "How come it is so much easier for you to recall Republican guys?"

Questioned about the observation in Bob Woodward's new book, State of Denial that the situation in Iraq "is much worse than previously thought," Shays said he has reported about the problems there and will continue to do so.

Upon further questioning, Shays said he wrote reports on his visits and observations and told the Bush administrations of his fears about political will in Iraq.

Maymin, the Libertarian, suggested "the U.S. set a date for leaving" and end writing blank checks for Iraq. "I propose July 4, 2007, as the date," said Maymin. "It confirms the signal and that we are serious and will stick to the date."

Letters Questioned

Farrell complained that Shays' reports after each of his 14 trips "haven't changed the course of the events in Iraq. Recommendations are not actions."

The Democrat challenger emphasized that she questioned the judgment of Shays and the Bush administration. "It is hard to believe there is any response to the Chris Shays letters," she said.

Shays shot back, "My letters don't just go to the White House. I don't always announce them."

The incumbent congressman also reminded his opponents and those attending the debate that he has held 100 hearings on terrorism issues. "I've showed this administration no mercy," he said.

Farrell added: "And no solution!"

As the debate approached the finish line, Farrell said she would seek a seat on a transportation committee in Congress if elected and claimed Shays never tried to do this.

Shays pointed out that Westport had the highest tax rate in the state under the Farrell administration. She replied that bonding for a school building program caused the tax increase.

In the two-minute closing statement part of the debate, Maymin promised, "I will always vote to reduce the size of government."

In her statement, Farrell asked: "Can we afford another two years of the unrestrained Bush administration?"

Shays had the last two minutes and reported: "Since Sept. 11, I have not had a day off."

He reminded everyone that they had a right to reject him and then added, "You need me more than ever."