Dean Barkley on Budget & Economy Independent Senate challenger

Greatest malfeasance in economic history on GOP's watch

Barkley, in particular, went bare-knuckled at his better-financed, big-party rivals, saying their campaigns have been corrupted by special interest money and negativity. He reserved some of his sharpest criticism for incumbent Coleman for, among other things, not doing more to stop the economic meltdown affecting the nation and world. "Norm, on your watch we had the greatest malfeasance in economic history. If you were in Enron, right now you'd probably be under indictment, not running for reelection."

Coleman responded that "It's easy from the cheap seats to throw shots," and said that Barkley and Franken lack his experience and his understanding of what it takes to forge deals in the hard-ball partisan atmosphere of Washington.

Favors lid on government spending

A: Yes.