The five Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate in Georgia faced off in their final debate Sunday, a relatively tame one-hour discussion that focused on high gas prices, special-interest money and the economy.

There were a few personal shots. But the debate, sponsored by the Atlanta Press Club and televised statewide by Georgia Public Broadcasting, was largely a mirror of the low-key campaign, which will determine the Democratic Party's nominee to run against on incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Libertarian Allen Buckley in November.

Voters go to the polls Tuesday to determine hundreds of races across the state, including the Democratic contest for the Senate.

DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones, former WSB-TV reporter Dale Cardwell, Atlanta businessman Rand Knight, former state legislator Jim Martin and Josh Lanier of Statesboro are seeking the Democratic nod in this week's primary.

During Sunday's debate, Cardwell and Martin proposed closing loopholes for oil speculators as an immediate way to bring down soaring gasoline prices.

Jones said there is no short-term solution to the oil crisis and proposed the development of alternative energy sources as the only realistic long-term solution.

Knight, however, said that if Congress and the president make a commitment to wean the country from foreign oil, "You will see the price of oil drop overnight."

Lanier said the president should go on national television and present a program to cut the country's dependence of foreign oil. "You'd see the price of oil go down before he got off the air," Lanier said.

Martin and Jones once again touted their experience, while Cardwell and Lanier stressed that they are the only two candidates not taking special-interest campaign money.

"Big giant multi-national corporations buy politicians and tell them how to vote," Cardwell said at one point.

Jones took a direct shot at Cardwell, who Jones characterized as part of the "liberal media" in the Atlanta market. Cardwell, as a television reporter, aired several reports critical of Jones.

"They've never scrutinized him," Jones said. "He's has gotten a free ride because of the special interests (in the media)."

Knight. 36, stressed said his youth and passion make him the right candidate to take on the well-funded Chambliss in the general election. That elicited one of the best lines of the evening.

"You got the fire, I got the belly, let's do it," Lanier said.

The Democratic contest has been largely an under-the-radar contest. Only Martin, who has the backing of key members of the national Democratic Senatorial Campaign, has run frequent television ads.

Martin and Jones have repeatedly stressed their resumes. But Knight – to Martin's chagrin – has won the endorsement of the state AFL-CIO and the Georgia Association of Educators.