CHANTILLY, Va. - Barack Obama (web|news|bio) and John McCain (web|news|bio) used surrogates to debate the top issues in Battleground Virginia on Wednesday.

Governor Tim Kaine spoke for Obama and former Senator and Governor George Allen argued for McCain in the debate held at a hotel near Dulles International Airport (web|news) in Chantilly.

The first topic: coal, which provides more than half of electricity in the Commonwealth.

"We need to dramatically improve the cleanliness of coal in respect to carbon emissions," argued Kaine.

"The fact of the matter is, Senator Obama in Texas earlier this year said we ought to tax coal, then you have Senator Biden up in Ohio saying no new coal plants in America," responded Allen.

They two also addressed the candidates' feelings on nuclear energy in the Commonwealth, and the costs of dangers of disposing its byproducts.

"I know it ought to be blasphemous, but we ought to learn from the French. (Laughter) The French reprocess, recycle it," said Allen.

"It's the other parts of the pie chart, the solar, wind power, hydro-electric that Senator Obama is most interested in," countered Kaine.

Finally, the two dealt with a controversial subject in Virginia, drilling for oil.

"That's the Sen. McCain proposal, 'Drill, baby, drill', find more oil -- that's a dead-end strategy," Kaine said.

"I'd rather be getting it off the coast of Virginia than off the coast of Saudi Arabia (web|news)," replied Allen.

Despite the clear differences, both men admit they're not sure exactly how Virginians are going to vote.

"On our side, we say, 'Look, if it hadn't been done for forty-four years, we're the underdog no matter what the poll says,'" offered Kaine.

"Virginia's clearly going to be a battleground," Allen said. "It's gonna be nip and tuck the whole way."