The race to succeed Virginia congressman Tom Davis is one of the most closely watched elections in the region and the two men hoping to replace the retiring Republican squared off against each other in a debate at George Mason University, trading barbs about the economy and who is better prepared to clean up congress.

Both Democrat Gerald Connelly and Republican Keith Fimian said they would bring much needed oversight to Capitol Hill and stressed their backgrounds as evidence that they could prevent future crises.

In a rare moment of agreement, both candidates deflected questions about the current $700 billion bail plan before Congress saying they had too little information to make a decision, but their criticism of Congress was equally strong

"There are men and women in Congress who should be in jail. What is taking place is wrong,' said Keith Fimian, republican candidate for Congress.

"Well an unregulated market, we see the results of that today," said Gerald Connelly, democratic candidate for Congress.

The agreement ended there. Fimian attacked Connelly for running a budget deficit in Fairfax. "In Fairfax County (web|news), we've never had a deficit. We don't have one now and we wont have one next year," said Connelly.

Connelly admitted tax revenues will be lower due to the economy, but that Fairfax's books would be balanced. Then, the county board chairman touted his record of working across party lines as evidence that he is better prepared to head to Capitol Hill.

"All of my major agenda items during my first four years of my chairmanship were virtually approved unanimously. All three republicans and all seven democrats voting for it," said Connelly.

Connelly promised to increase spending for education and health care. Fimian shot back that never ending spending is fueling the current economic crisis.

"We are perilously close to doing ourselves great damage here in the U.S. precisely because we tax and spend and spend some more," said Fimian.

The two men also battled over tax cuts with Fimian saying they are needed to spur the economy on, while Connelly said he supports raising them on the wealthy.