WATERVILLE (AP) – The two candidates for Maine’s U.S. House district covering the sprawling 2nd District disagreed on Iraq and universal health care, but found common ground on issues such as global warming and an east-west highway during a debate Monday night.

Two-term Democratic Rep. Michael Michaud and his challenger, Republican L. Scott D’Amboise, answered prepared questions before a crowd of about 100 at Thomas College. The exchange was low-key and amicable despite their sharp disagreement on some issues, including Iraq and the war on terror.

D’Amboise said it was not a mistake for America to fight the war in Iraq, but added, “I believe we could have done a better job … We took a knife to a gunfight.” He added that the United States should not leave Iraq prematurely.

“I believe it was a mistake to go to war in Iraq,” Michaud responded. “By the United States going into Iraq, all the goodwill that was built up after 9/11 was gone.”

Michaud said he supports a proposal by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., calling for a strategy for withdrawal.

D’Amboise said he supports the so-called warrantless wiretaps used to prevent terrorism, saying, “If you have nothing to hide, I feel you have nothing to fear.”

Michaud said he opposed legislation authorizing warrantless monitoring of phone calls and e-mails because of their impact on civil liberties.

Michaud and D’Amboise also differed on President Bush’s tax cuts. Michaud said they were “irresponsible” and were of little benefit to Mainers, adding that tax cuts should be focused on the middle class.

D’Amboise said he believes the country has benefited from the tax cuts, saying, “Whenever we have tax cuts, the economy grows.”

The two also parted ways on universal health care, with Michaud in favor and D’Amboise saying it would not work.

“Congress has not done its job,” said Michaud, who has proposed a system in which prescription drug prices would be negotiated by the government with manufacturers to drive down costs.

“Universal health care would be astronomically devastating,” responded D’Amboise, who favors strategies to promote more competition among providers.

But the two candidates agreed that action needs to be taken to reverse global warming, and both support renewal of the law to protect endangered species. Both also said Maine needs an east-west highway.

Michaud noted that he supported action in Congress to give a high priority to a Maine-New York east-west highway corridor.

Asked about gay marriage, D’Amboise said he supports “traditional marriage, nothing else, man and woman.” He opposes abortion unless the mother’s life is in jeopardy.

Michaud said he supports Maine law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman, but voted against a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage because he believes that issue should be left to the states.

On abortion, Michaud said he supports adequate funding for family planning because that’s the best way to avoid a need for abortions.

In the Nov. 7 contest, Michaud faces a challenge by a newcomer to state and national politics. D’Amboise, who works as an eye technician, has only held one elective post, a three-year term as selectman in the town of Lisbon Falls where he lives.

D’Amboise stresses family values, opposes abortion, and Monday night said, “I am a Reagan conservative.”

Former paper-mill worker Michaud spent two decades in the Maine Legislature, where he rose to become Senate president, before his election to Congress in 2002. In Washington, Michaud serves on the Veterans’ Affairs, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Small Business committees.

The latest campaign finance reports show Michaud’s campaign far ahead of D’Amboise’s in fundraising.

Maine’s 2nd District covers most of the state’s land mass, except for a swath along the southern coastal region.

Monday’s debate was moderated by David Offer, executive editor of the Kennebec Journal of Augusta and Morning Sentinel of Waterville. It was also co-sponsored by the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement at Colby College, the University of Maine at Augusta and Thomas College.

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On the Net:

L.Scott D’Amboise campaign: www.damboiseforcongress.com/index.html

Michael Michaud campaign: www.michaudforcongress.com/