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WILMINGTON Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan and Republican rival Thom Tillis used every opportunity in their last scheduled televised debate Thursday night to blast each others legislative records and reinforce themes from television ads heading into the final weeks of their tight race.

It was their third debate and second this week, but Libertarian nominee Sean Haugh joined them for the first time during the hourlong program at a Wilmington television studio aired elsewhere in the state.

While Haugh promoted his limited government, anti-war platform, the debates main attractions remained Tillis and Hagan in a race considered to be one of a handful that will determine which party holds the Senate majority in 2015.

Heres the rundown on the debates major themes:

CATCH PHRASES

In her opening statement, Hagan said, North Carolina needs a common sense voice, somebody who will always put the best interest of our state before anything else before proceeding to tell viewers that Tillis puts the interests of the Republican Party and its allies ahead of the people. Its reiterating her strategy to link Tillis to the unpopular GOP-led legislature.

She mentioned at least three times that under Tillis leadership as state House speaker, the legislature let expire the states film production tax credit, a significant issue for the regions large film and television industry. Its been replaced by a less generous grant program.

Tillis said at least a half-dozen times that Hagan was a rubber stamp for President Barack Obamas policies, which Tillis said were dampening the economic recovery. Hes been laser-focused on connecting the first-term senator to the president. If we want to change the presidents policies, we have to change our senator, he said.

MEETING MISSTEPS

Tillis kept harping on Hagan for her attendance record at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearings this year and emphasized Hagans acknowledgement that she missed a February meeting because of a scheduled campaign fundraising reception in New York. The closed meeting on current and future worldwide threats to national security had been rescheduled for the afternoon, Hagan and her campaign said.

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Libertarian joins Hagan, Tillis in final U.S. Senate debate

Shut out of televised debates, Libertarian candidate for governor Adrian Wyllie filed a lawsuit Thursday that seeks to force the Florida Press Association to allow him onstage with Gov. Rick Scott and Democrat Charlie Crist, the Miami Herald has learned.

Wyllie could not be immediately reached for comment, but the head of the association confirmed Wyllie filed suit in Broward County, where the debate takes place Wednedsay at Broward College in conjunction with Leadership Florida.

Dean Ridings, president and CEO of the association, said Wyllie didnt make the cut because he failed to register 15 percent support in at least one statewide credible public-opinion survey from a nonpartisan polling organization by Sept. 30.

But we want to be fair and consistent, Ridings said. There are 10 candidates for governor and why would it be fair to them to change our criteria?

Ridings said the criteria for candidate participation has been in place since before the 2010 elections. He noted that Wyllie, who garnered as much as 13 percent support in a recent poll from the Republican-leaning polling firm 0ptimus, appears to be improving his standing in the polls.

But its not enough.

Were not going to change criteria in mid-stream because we like a candidate and hes doing better, Ridings said.

Wyllie is planning a protest at another televised debate to be held Friday at Telemundo in Miramar, where Crist and Scott will face off for the first time. The debate will be broadcast at 7 p.m. that night.

The third and final debate between the two major candidates takes place Oct. 21 in Jacksonville.

Crist wanted more debates, but Scott would only agree to three. Scott's running mate, Lt. Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera, has also ignored calls from Crist's running mate, Annette Taddeo, to debate on television.

Read more here:
Excluded from Fla gov debates, Libertarian sues

The News & Observer asked several political analysts to watch the debate and share their thoughts about the performance of Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan and challengers Republican House Speaker Thom Tillis and Libertarian Sean Hough. Here is what they had to say:

Craig M. Burnett, assistant professor in the Public and International Affairs Department at UNC Wilmington

Both Hagan and Tillis who largely did not address Libertarian Sean Haugh are looking to link each other to their own records, hoping that voters will focus on their perceived shortcomings. Most of the debates talking points matched the advertisements.

Tillis, in particular, seems to want to reinforce his argument that Hagan is weak on foreign policy and is a rubber stamp for President Obama. Hagan, by contrast, is quite comfortable attacking Tillis education policy, which, historically, has been a bipartisan issue in North Carolina.

One of the most effective paths of attack for challengers is the economy. Unfortunately for Tillis, this option is largely not available as the economy overall has improved and he, personally, must share some of the responsibility as a public figure in North Carolina. Its unlikely that other issues, including ISIS, have the potential to impact and motivate voters in the same way.

This debate, similar to the previous two, is unlikely to change the minds of most individuals. Thats likely good news for Hagan.

Andrew Taylor, NCSU political science professor

There is still clearly a great deal of friction between Hagan and Tillis. But the conflict between them has taken on a predictable feel and the talking points are becoming cliches. Add to that the more intimate setting around the desk and Libertarian candidate Sean Haughs calming influence and I thought the debate was not quite as feisty. Like the previous two debates it will do little to move the needle, an outcome made even more likely by the relatively few North Carolinians who watched the event.

Michael Bitzer, Catawba College political science professor

Well, pretty much what we expected, as it was another round of sharp elbows and continued talking points from both Hagan and Tillis. I thought Speaker Tillis was more aggressive than he was on Tuesday night, but Senator Hagan seemed to keep her cool and returned fire just as much as she did Tuesday.

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Interesting dynamic from Haugh

Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream

KALAMAZOO, MI LibertarianLorence Wenke was the final 20th District state Senate candidate to be interviewed by the Kalamazoo Gazette's Editorial Board Thursday.

During the 30-minute public interview, Wenke, a former state Rep. who served the Legislature from 2002-2008, was asked a series of questions by Kalamazoo Gazette Editorial Mickey Ciokajlo on issues ranging from why he chose to break from the Republican Party earlier this year, to whether or not he supports the recent minimum-wage increase that will raise the wage to $9.25 an hour by 2015.

Wenke, 69, said in addition to his well-documented support of gay marriage, Wenke said he also disagrees with recent Republican budget and spending practices, which he said have been "irresponsible." Wenke said government employees don't need pensions and life-long health care since those options are virtually unheard of in the private sector.

State Rep. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, was interviewed prior to Wenke Thursday and state Rep.Margaret O'Brien went before the editorial board Monday. Both candidates are also seeking election to the 20th District state Senate seat, which covers all of Kalamazoo County.

MORE: See how Wenke and his opponents responded to MLive's Voter Guide questionnaire.

Here are Wenke's responses to 10 questions he was asked by Ciokajlo:

You broke from the Republican Party earlier this year and joined the Libertarian Party. One of the most prominent and often-cited reasons was your difference in position from the GOP on gay marriage, which you support. Are there other major issues on which you differ from the Republican Party?

Wenke said in addition to supporting gay marriage, he also departs with Republicans on budget spending.

"I have come to realize the last to few years when it comes to budget spending in Washington, the Republicans are just as much as part of that as what the other parties are," Wenke said.

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Libertarian Lorence Wenke talks split from GOP, minimum wage during Kalamazoo Gazette Editorial Board interview

Forum@360: Libertarian Candidate for Governor Carolyn "Care" Clift
Libertarian Carolyn "Care" Clift discusses her election bid to be the next governor of Alaska. Jeremy Hsieh hosts.

By: 360 North

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Forum@360: Libertarian Candidate for Governor Carolyn "Care" Clift - Video