U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and former Rep. Joe DioGuardi (R-N.Y.) squared off at a debate last week in the race for Gillibrand?s Senate seat.

During the hour-long session last Friday, Gillibrand and DioGuardi fielded questions from journalists as well as questions from the public.

The harshest exchange was over which of the two is tainted by work they've done in their chosen professions.

Professionally, Gillibrand is a lawyer and DioGuardi is a certified public accountant.

Gillibrand questioned DioGuardi's relationship with a company under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. DioGuardi tied Gillibrand to the subprime mortgage scandal, which is blamed, in part, for the current recession.

Recent polls have shown Gillibrand with a sizable lead over DioGuardi.