Democratic Congresswoman Betsy Markey squared off against her challenger, Republican Cory Gardner, in what will probably be the only full debate for Colorado's 4th Congressional District. Last night's event in Loveland was heated, with the candidates arguing many of the topics covered in their campaign commercials.

Gardner lambasted Markey for an advertisement in which she claims she voted against the financial bailout, writes the Loveland Connection. "She wasn't even in Congress when the bailout vote occurred," Gardner said. Though Markey wasn't in office when the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, was passed in 2008, in a symbolic effort, she voted not to release the second half of the bailout. "But I don't need to be lectured by someone who actually wants to create a tax on the wind in this country. In my day, Earth Wind & Fire was a band, not a new source of revenue," Markey responded.

She also chided Gardner for an attack ad accusing her of voting in favor of President Barack Obama's 2011 budget when she did not. (Longmont's Daily Times-Call points out that Congressman Ed Markey of Massachusetts did, however, vote for it.)

More than 300 people attended the event, which included American Constitution Party candidate Doug Aden and independent Ken Waszkiewicz, reports The Greeley Tribune.