HUNTINGTON - In the closing hours of a contentious campaign, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., debated her Democratic opponent, Anne Barth, for half an hour at WSAZ-TV's studio on Saturday.

The debate, featuring their answers to questions by a panel of reporters, is scheduled to be aired as part of a two-hour package featuring candidates running for four offices, at 1 p.m. today.

Barth went after Capito for voting with the Bush administration 87 percent of the time.

"Many of the policies of the Bush administration have not been in the best interest of West Virginians," Barth said. "She has voted for eight budgets that have put the country $10 trillion in debt."

Capito said, "The 600,000 West Virginians I represent know me to be independent."

She cited several votes she believes help West Virginians, including her support for new federal mine safety legislation and legislation against domestic violence.

Capito also emphasized her votes against Bush's recent $700 billion bailout bill and to override Bush's vetoes of legislation to expand health care to more uninsured children.

Barth and Capito also disagreed on the merits of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Capito believes the act would compromise an employee's "right to a secret ballot, which is something we have valued in this country since the Founding Fathers.

"I am not opposed to unions," Capito said, "but we cannot remove the right to a secret ballot."

Barth said, "The Free Choice law does allow secret ballots if employees want that."

Barth believes the legislation, strongly backed by the union movement, would make it more difficult for employers to campaign against union elections and delay contract negotiations.

Capito said being a Republican brings "diversity" to West Virginia's five-member delegation that includes two Democratic House members and two Democratic Senators.

"I would say I am more qualified [for the House seat]. I have an independent voice," Capito said. "But I have no reason to believe Anne is unqualified for this office."

Barth stressed that she has learned a lot about state and national politics during her 21 years working for Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., most of them as director of his state office in Charleston.

Asked to name which president they admired the most during their lifetimes, Barth picked Lyndon B. Johnson and Capito chose Ronald Reagan.

Barth said, "I admire President Johnson for leading the fight for civil rights in this nation. He started out in the Legislative Branch, where the stories about him are legendary. He had a commitment to justice and fairness."

Capito said Reagan brought "Morning in America. He brought a healing quality to our nation... and he had great diplomatic relations around the world."

In recent media and mail ads, Barth says that Capito has not been a main sponsor of a single piece of legislation that passed Congress.

"West Virginia deserve someone who can get results for them in Washington, D.C," Barth said.

Capito replied, "I have been in Congress for eight years. There are lots of ways to get things done. I work very well in the committee system."

Her efforts, Capito said, played key roles in a variety of projects, from funding a four-lane replacement for U.S. 35 in Putnam County to several water and infrastructure projects.

Barth strongly disagreed with a Capito ad claiming she would raise taxes.

Barth said she wants to "let the Bush tax cuts for the very wealthiest Americans expire. Her claim that I would raise taxes for our middle class in West Virginia is absolutely bogus."

Capito stressed her opposition to the recent $700 billion bailout bill. "That is not a Main Street bill.... West Virginians are stressed up about it ... a reckless way to go about it."

Barth said the bailout bill will help to fund clean-coal research in West Virginia.

Barth also criticized the ongoing wars in the Middle East.

"Capito was wrong on the decision to go into Iraq, wrong on the strategy for staying in Iraq and wrong on a timetable to get out," she said.

Capito supports presidential candidate John McCain, but added: "McCain wants to eliminate earmarks. I do not agree with him on that."

If elected, Barth said she plans to promote service to others, including "protecting jobs, like those at Rite Aid, and keeping [Social Security and medical] benefits for seniors."

If re-elected, Capito said she will remain independent in her thinking and votes.

WSAZ also is broadcasting two other debates between West Virginians. One features Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., and Martin Gearheart, his Republican opponent and Mercer County businessman. The other is a gubernatorial debate between Sen. Russ Weeks, R-Raleigh, and Jesse Johnson, the Mountain Party candidate. Gov. Joe Manchin, the Democratic incumbent, did not attend.

Reach Paul J. Nyden at pjny...@wvgazette.com or 348-5164.

HUNTINGTON - In the closing hours of a contentious campaign, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., debated her Democratic opponent, Anne Barth, for half an hour at WSAZ-TV's studio on Saturday.

The debate, featuring their answers to questions by a panel of reporters, is scheduled to be aired as part of a two-hour package featuring candidates running for four offices, at 1 p.m. today.

Barth went after Capito for voting with the Bush administration 87 percent of the time.

"Many of the policies of the Bush administration have not been in the best interest of West Virginians," Barth said. "She has voted for eight budgets that have put the country $10 trillion in debt."

Capito said, "The 600,000 West Virginians I represent know me to be independent."

She cited several votes she believes help West Virginians, including her support for new federal mine safety legislation and legislation against domestic violence.

Capito also emphasized her votes against Bush's recent $700 billion bailout bill and to override Bush's vetoes of legislation to expand health care to more uninsured children.

Barth and Capito also disagreed on the merits of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Capito believes the act would compromise an employee's "right to a secret ballot, which is something we have valued in this country since the Founding Fathers.

"I am not opposed to unions," Capito said, "but we cannot remove the right to a secret ballot."

Barth said, "The Free Choice law does allow secret ballots if employees want that."

Barth believes the legislation, strongly backed by the union movement, would make it more difficult for employers to campaign against union elections and delay contract negotiations.

Capito said being a Republican brings "diversity" to West Virginia's five-member delegation that includes two Democratic House members and two Democratic Senators.

"I would say I am more qualified [for the House seat]. I have an independent voice," Capito said. "But I have no reason to believe Anne is unqualified for this office."

Barth stressed that she has learned a lot about state and national politics during her 21 years working for Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., most of them as director of his state office in Charleston.

Asked to name which president they admired the most during their lifetimes, Barth picked Lyndon B. Johnson and Capito chose Ronald Reagan.

Barth said, "I admire President Johnson for leading the fight for civil rights in this nation. He started out in the Legislative Branch, where the stories about him are legendary. He had a commitment to justice and fairness."

Capito said Reagan brought "Morning in America. He brought a healing quality to our nation... and he had great diplomatic relations around the world."

In recent media and mail ads, Barth says that Capito has not been a main sponsor of a single piece of legislation that passed Congress.

"West Virginia deserve someone who can get results for them in Washington, D.C," Barth said.

Capito replied, "I have been in Congress for eight years. There are lots of ways to get things done. I work very well in the committee system."

Her efforts, Capito said, played key roles in a variety of projects, from funding a four-lane replacement for U.S. 35 in Putnam County to several water and infrastructure projects.

Barth strongly disagreed with a Capito ad claiming she would raise taxes.

Barth said she wants to "let the Bush tax cuts for the very wealthiest Americans expire. Her claim that I would raise taxes for our middle class in West Virginia is absolutely bogus."

Capito stressed her opposition to the recent $700 billion bailout bill. "That is not a Main Street bill.... West Virginians are stressed up about it ... a reckless way to go about it."

Barth said the bailout bill will help to fund clean-coal research in West Virginia.

Barth also criticized the ongoing wars in the Middle East.

"Capito was wrong on the decision to go into Iraq, wrong on the strategy for staying in Iraq and wrong on a timetable to get out," she said.

Capito supports presidential candidate John McCain, but added: "McCain wants to eliminate earmarks. I do not agree with him on that."

If elected, Barth said she plans to promote service to others, including "protecting jobs, like those at Rite Aid, and keeping [Social Security and medical] benefits for seniors."

If re-elected, Capito said she will remain independent in her thinking and votes.

WSAZ also is broadcasting two other debates between West Virginians. One features Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., and Martin Gearheart, his Republican opponent and Mercer County businessman. The other is a gubernatorial debate between Sen. Russ Weeks, R-Raleigh, and Jesse Johnson, the Mountain Party candidate. Gov. Joe Manchin, the Democratic incumbent, did not attend.

Reach Paul J. Nyden at pjny...@wvgazette.com or 348-5164.