RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK - The Democrats running for governor swiped at each other Thursday night in a televised forum, turning what was to be a discussion on the economy into a flurry of attacks.

By contrast, the Republican race remained staid. The three announced GOP candidates used their session on UNC-TV to stake out positions on economic issues.

The Democrats went after each other on issues they previously fought with press releases and YouTube videos. Here are some highlights.

PERDUE STRIKES FIRST

Halfway through their debate, in response to a question on immigration, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue repeated her campaign's frequent assertion that State Treasurer Richard Moore is responsible for the problems of a troubled theater in Roanoke Rapids that was built for Randy Parton. She said Moore, who is chairman of a commission that must approve public debt, withheld a study that questioned the theater's feasibility.

"A lot of us have been watching what's been going on with Randy Parton's party palace, and that's been problematic," Perdue said.

Moore said his office has not withheld any documents and that Perdue was unfair to launch an attack Thursday on a complicated issue when she has turned down invitations for other debates that would allow longer exchanges. He said it's too early to call Roanoke Rapids' plans a failure.

"They've tried something new. They're six months into it. Y'all, the Research Triangle Park took 30 years to be successful."

MOORE FIRES BACK

Perdue mentioned her proposal to make college more affordable for state residents. Moore said that as a legislator, Perdue voted to increase tuition.

"You've spent the last 20 years of never meeting a tuition increase you didn't like," Moore said. "So you drive up tuition for 20 years, then you turn around and you've got a new program that five, eight years from now is going to help people. We need to get our people in college now."

WHERE THE DEMOCRATS LIVE

Perdue, in her closing statement, said Moore had taken money from investment firms seeking to do business with the state's pension fund.

"Do you want a candidate who is from Wall Street or a candidate who is from Main Street?"

Moore corrected his address.

"I'm from North Carolina and not actually Virginia," he said. Perdue was born in Grundy, Va. She moved to North Carolina in 1975.

THE REPUBLICANS

In contrast to the fierce face-off between the Democrats, the Republican candidates tried to distinguish themselves with positions on the issues.

Salisbury lawyer Bill Graham, former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr and state Sen. Fred Smith discussed improving education, curbing illegal immigration and promoting economic development.

Orr said economic incentive grants should be invested in work force development, rather than focused on a few businesses.

"We've paid hundreds of millions to bring Google to North Carolina for 200 jobs and a server farm," Orr said. "We want North Carolina to be the place where the next Google grows and starts."

Graham said each of the state's counties needs to be home to more than one type of industry so that a collapse in one industry won't decimate the economy.

"We've got to diversify each of our counties so we're not just dependent on one economic sector," Graham said.

Smith said economic growth must be spread across the state, not just the booming counties.

"We need to create opportunities for our children," Smith said. "We need to create opportunities for people in the eastern part of the state."