By AP/KWMU
Lake Ozark, Mo. – A debate Friday between Republican Senator Jim Talent and Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill focused largely on foreign policy.
The exchange ranged from the war in Iraq to illegal immigration to tracking terrorists.
The debate at the Missouri Press Association Conference in Lake Ozark was the first of several planned. The two questioned each other's stand on illegal immigration.
Talent supports a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border and more agents to enforce immigration laws. He also opposes allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the country.
Talent charged that McCaskill takes the opposite stance, but she responded that she supports a fence and also opposes amnesty.
She also said the focus should not be on keeping people from entering the country but rather on tougher penalties for employers who hire illegal immigrants.
They also discussed how much power the government should have in monitoring and interrogating terrorists.
Both agreed monitoring suspected terrorists, including listening in on their phone calls, is important to keep the United States safe.