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NJ's US Senate candidates spar over economy

October 10, 2012 | Modified: October 11, 2012 at 12:01 am
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Photo -   FILE In a file photo made Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-NJ, speaks in Sayreville, N.J. On Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, New Jersey's two major-party U.S. Senate candidates are set to meet in a debate. Menendez and Republican state Sen. Joe Kyrillos are scheduled to answer questions on radio station New Jersey 101.5 FM at 7 p.m. Wednesday. (AP Photo/Mel Evans,file)
FILE In a file photo made Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-NJ, speaks in Sayreville, N.J. On Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, New Jersey's two major-party U.S. Senate candidates are set to meet in a debate. Menendez and Republican state Sen. Joe Kyrillos are scheduled to answer questions on radio station New Jersey 101.5 FM at 7 p.m. Wednesday. (AP Photo/Mel Evans,file)

EWING, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey's two major-party candidates for U.S. Senate have spent their second debate arguing over how best to jumpstart the economy.

Sen. Bob Menendez, the incumbent Democrat, and Republican challenger Joe Kyrillos, a veteran state legislator, stuck mainly to their respective party's talking points during their one-hour debate Wednesday sponsored by radio station 101.5 FM.

While addressing such issues as health care and illegal immigration, they were most animated when arguing over the economy.

Menendez asked what his opponent has done to create jobs during his 24 years in the Legislature while Kyrillos said the federal stimulus program added nearly $1 trillion to the national debt.

The candidates spent several minutes describing how they would help the middle class, but both struggled to define who constitutes the middle class.