'Virginia Values' vs. 'Fresh Eyes'

U.S. Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), left, pressed rival James Webb for details on certain issues; Webb took aim at Allen's ties to President Bush. (By Steve Helber -- Associated Press)

"The greatest concern I have as an American right now is the breakup of our society along economic lines," Webb said.

He then focused on Allen's resistance at raising the $5.15 an hour federal minimum wage. Webb asked Allen why he voted to raise his Senate salary four times but voted four times not to raise the minimum wage.

Allen said he supports raising the minimum wage but only if it is accompanied by additional tax relief for small businesses.

Allen talked about his efforts to reduce the number of uninsured Americans through the creation of health-care savings accounts. Webb responded that an even greater federal effort was needed to extend health care to more Americans.

Allen said he supports amending the state and U.S. constitutions to prohibit same-sex marriage, something Webb opposes.

Allen defended his vote last week against allowing more federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. He said taxpayers should not finance a procedure that destroys a human embryo. Webb said Allen's vote shows he is out of touch with most Virginians.

Both candidates said they want to do more to crack down on illegal immigration. Allen said he opposes Bush's proposal for a guest worker program. He wants to build a fence along the Mexican border. Webb wants to punish corporations that hire illegal immigrants.

Strategists for Webb, who has roots in southwest Virginia, hope he can replay former Democratic governor Mark R. Warner's appeal to rural voters while retaining the party's base among liberals in Northern Virginia and African Americans in the Tidewater region.

During the primary, some African Americans questioned Webb's commitment to affirmative action. Webb said Saturday that he supports affirmative action for African Americans but does not believe it should be extended to other minority groups. If it is, Webb said he wants affirmative action programs opened up to poor whites.