Murphy and Fitzpatrick get more specific in debate

Heading into the stretch run of their rematch for Pennsylvania's Eighth District congressional seat, Democratic incumbent Patrick Murphy and Republican Mike Fitzpatrick staged their final scheduled debate Thursday.

The hour-long exchange, held at the lower Bucks campus of Bucks County Community College, came as several polls show a once-wide Fitzpatrick lead narrowing.

While the candidates staked out familiar positions on taxes, unemployment and health care reform, some follow-up questions pinned them down more precisely on some issues.

Both candidates, for instance, said they favored deporting all illegal immigrants, regardless of how law-abiding and established they might be in this country.

"You agree with me?" a surprised-looking Fitzpatrick said, prompting laughter from the mixed crowd of students and general spectators.

Both candidates also voiced support for drilling for offshore oil and for natural gas in Pennsylvania, with Murphy expounding more on the need for environmental protections.

The debate was the fifth face-to-face session the candidates have conducted for the seat that Fitzpatrick held for one term before Murphy narrowly defeated him in 2006. An independent poll conducted in September showed Fitzpatrick with a 14-point lead among likely voters.

Several more recent polls have suggested a neck-and-neck contest, with one candidate or the other holding a slim, single-digit lead and with many voters still undecided.

Contact staff writer Larry King at 215-345-0446 or lking@phillynews.com.