CRANSTON, R.I. (AP) – In their final debate before the Sept. 12 Republican primary, Sen. Lincoln Chafee and Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey met Saturday to square off on issues ranging from the war in Iraq to religion in public life to gay rights. The debate grew heated at times, with Laffey saying Chafee had no sense of humor and Chafee accusing Laffey of talking too much.

“You’re a one-man filibuster, a lot of words but not many solutions,” Chafee said.

Polls have shown the two running neck-and-neck in a Senate race that has gained national attention. Laffey has a strong following among rank-and-file Republicans, but party leaders have endorsed Chafee, whom they see as their best bet to defeat the likely Democratic nominee, former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse, in the November election.

Chafee, who is normally painstakingly polite, seemed to take on some of Laffey’s brashness, occasionally interrupting his opponent and challenging him on the details of his positions. Meanwhile, Laffey, who has a reputation for being confrontational, adopted a softer demeanor, talking about his family and personal story.

Both candidates said the United States should work to get off foreign oil, increase border security and rein in government spending. But they disagree, sometimes sharply, on how to do it.

Chafee said President Bush’s tax cuts, supported by Laffey, have made it impossible for the country to invest in education and get out of debt. Laffey said the tax cuts will fuel the economy.

Laffey accused Chafee of voting against tax cuts that would benefit the middle class, and spoke about his own background growing up the son of a toolmaker and working mother. He later went to Harvard Business School and became a successful investment banker worth millions.

Laffey frequently raised the name of President John F. Kennedy, who he described as his hero and praised his economic policies. Chafee took exception to that.

“I don’t know whether JFK’s financial plan is something to brag about,” he said.

Chafee questioned Laffey’s support from the Club for Growth, a group of economic conservatives that has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Laffey’s campaign. Chafee said Laffey’s acceptance of the group’s contributions undercuts Laffey’s complaints about special interests, a cornerstone of his campaign.

Some of the clearest differences between the two came out in debate about the war in Iraq.

Chafee did not support going to war in Iraq, saying there was not enough evidence to support it. He was the only Republican in the Senate to vote against it.

Laffey supports the war, although he has been critical of the way it’s been executed. He was critical of Chafee’s past comments that “a bad peace is better than a good war.”

“There’s been lots of bad peaces, and they’ve led to another war,” he said.

Both men said they would support diplomacy, rather than immediate military action, in Iran, which is expanding its nuclear program.

The two also disagree on social issues, such as gay marriage and the role of religion in public life.

Chafee, who supports gay marriage, cited his support of legislation in Washington to strengthen gay rights. Laffey said he supports civil unions but not gay marriage.

In a recent ad, he tells voters that his brother died of AIDS, but he described him as recently as this month as a “promiscuous homosexual.” When asked about that, Laffey said he had a difficult relationship with his brother, and they reconciled before his death.

Laffey also played down a comment he once made about God inspiring his run for mayor of Cranston. He said he is a churchgoer, but his civic duties would take priority if elected to the Senate.

Chafee said he believes in separation of church and state, and criticized the mayor for allowing several religious displays on city land during the holidays. Laffey responded by saying the display was multi-denominational and many residents liked it.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Chafee doesn’t like holiday displays,” he said.

When asked if they would support the death penalty, specifically for Osama bin Laden, Laffey said he would, although the death penalty is inappropriate in many situations.

Chafee said he is opposed to the death penalty in all cases, including that of Osama bin Laden.

“Once you oppose the death penalty, you can’t make exceptions,” he said.