Democrat Mary Landrieu and Republican John Kennedy defended their use of negative campaign ads as they faced off in the final debate of the U.S. Senate race, with less than two weeks to go before the election.

The two major candidates in the race responded Wednesday night to complaints about the tone of the campaign, in which both sides
have repeatedly traded attack ads.

Kennedy, the state treasurer, says he regrets the tone but had to respond to accusations against him that he says aren't true.

He says he has no part in the third-party, national Republican Party ads accusing Landrieu of being corrupt.

Landrieu, seeking a third term in the Senate, says she also thought it was important to counter claims against her and explain who Kennedy is. She says she doesn't believe Kennedy is unethical, but believes that he has mismanaged his office.

The two candidates also fielded questions on topics such as social security, coastal restoration, Congressional earmarks, the military, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the financial crisis, and abortion.

Listen to the entire debate between Landrieu and Kennedy from Wednesday night:

Listen:

   

This fourth debate was televised statewide, broadcast live from WWL-TV in New Orleans.

The election is Nov. 4.