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ANAHEIM -- Republican Neel Kashkari tore into rival Tim Donnelly on Thursday, accusing him of offending minorities and alienating prominent Republicans while mentioning his criminal record in the only scheduled debate between the two candidates for governor.

Donnelly, relishing a large lead in public opinion polls and the support of a raucous crowd, brushed Kashkari off, occasionally chuckling.

They only attack you when youre the front-runner, he said during the 90-minute debate, hosted live at the Ayres Hotel Anaheim by The John and Ken Show, a conservative program on KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles.

The debate comes at a critical time in the race, with Kashkari, a former U.S. Treasury Department official, laboring to gain ground on Donnelly, a state assemblyman from Twin Peaks. Kashkari moved Thursday to capitalize on recent controversies that have led prominent Republicans, including former Gov. Pete Wilson, to publicly rebuke Donnelly. Among those controversies are Donnellys comments tying Kashkari to Islamic law and Donnellys vote in the Assembly against banning the sale of Confederate flags in state gift shops.

The reason that so many people have come out and endorsed me is partly because they like me, but its partly because they really worry about the Republican Party, and Tim, to be direct, in the last few months, in the last few months youve managed to denigrate Latinos, African Americans, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Kashkari said. Thats true.

The audience, full of Donnelly supporters who lined up hours early for a seat, jeered Kashkari. One man yelled at him, Go home!

Donnelly, a tea party favorite and the more experienced orator, challenged Kashkari to explain his vote for president in 2008, perhaps Kashkaris biggest liability with Republican voters.

I just have a very simple question, Donnelly said. Whyd you vote for Barack Obama?

Kashkari said Obama was getting better economic advice in the financial crisis than the Republican nominee, John McCain. He supported former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the presidential race in 2012, and he noted Romney is supporting him.

He didnt endorse you, Tim, Kashkari said. Mitt Romney endorsed me for governor, and Im proud of that.

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Neel Kashkari rips into Tim Donnelly in GOP debate