U.S. Senate hopefuls Bob Kerrey and Deb Fischer tangled over immigration, Medicare spending and the Keystone XL pipeline in their first face-to-face campaign debate at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island Saturday afternoon.
The debate offered voters a look at key differences between the candidates. In one exchange, Kerrey said a solution on immigration requires "a move to the middle" while Fischer argued that it's a national security concern.
Fischer, a Republican state lawmaker, and Kerrey, a former Democratic governor and U.S. Senator, are both seeking the seat held by Democratic U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, who is not seeking re-election in November.
Fischer pitched herself to voters as an experienced, conservative state senator while Kerrey cast himself as a consensus builder unafraid to challenge his party's leadership in Congress.