Social Security Causes Clash of Senate Candidates

The U.S. Senate debate turned to Social Security. Republican Marco Rubio defended his record, insisting that Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running without party affiliation, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek were trying to distort his record on that issue.

While Crist fired away at both candidates on the issue, he focused on Rubio. Hes been all over the map on Social Security, said Crist.

Meek added that he was the only candidate who had been consistent in his defense of Social Security, hammering Crist for backing privatizing that program when he ran for the U.S. Senate against Bob Graham in 1998. If they want to change Social Security, they have to go through me, said Meek, before providing his height and his experience as a linebacker and a state trooper.

Rubio and Meek engaged in a little back-and-forth on a number of isssues. Rubio snapped that Meek did not have a real plan on Social Security and attacked the Democrat for backing the federal stimulus. Meek fired back at Rubio, insisting his plans would create jobs. Rubio is way ahead of Crist -- and much further ahead of Meek. It was an odd move for Rubio, the favorite in the race.