The two leading candidates for Oregon governor, incumbent Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Republican challenger Ron Saxton faced off on KGW Monday night, touching on everything from state spending to auto emissions.

For months the path to the Oregon governor's office has traveled across the state.

  Watch the debate

  Register to vote

  Vote in political poll

On Monday, Saxton and Kulongoski traded jabs on each others' records, and covered their views on school spending, state taxes and the Oregon ‘kicker’ and the size of government.

The candidates took questions from a field of panelists, and at the end addressed question sent in by viewers and Oregonian readers.

On the hot button of illegal immigration, Saxton was challenged about his own cherry farm which employed many migrant workers.

“It is hypocrisy to actually raise the issue, not take responsibility for raising it and then turn around and be part of the problem not a part of the solution and not support a state sanction against employers who hire illegal aliens,” Kulongoski said.

”Oregonians are tired of that kind of politics. I'm tired of that kind of politics. Let's talk about the issues that really have something to do with what's happening in our state and not sling around innuendos,” Saxton replied

The governor ordered the state to adopt California's car pollution standards. Saxton had to be pressed twice whether he would repeal those rules.

But time and again, the governor found himself reminded that many democrats are disappointed in him. He brushed it off.

 ”First of all, I don't think we're behind in the polls and I don't think the race is close. And I think I'm going to win well,” Kulongoski said.  

“Oregon voters know he hasn't done a very good job in the first term. They know we can do better,” Saxton replied

“It’s very close and no one has an apparent edge," said Ron Tammen a political science professor at Portland State University. He added that the Oregon gubernatorial race was one of the closest in the country.

Tammen says Kulongoski would be served well by going on the attack and Saxton could score by emphasizing his moderate views.

“The key for him is to eat into the Kulongoski lead in the Democratic precincts in the Willamette Valley the key to the governor is to eat into Saxton's lead in eastern Oregon," he explained.

But as the campaign comes to an end, Tammen said it was unlikely each candidate will gain many more supporters so it is likely both men will try and discredit each other.

"I think both campaigns are going to go negative very heavily," he said.

(KGW Reporter Vince Patton and NWCN Reporter Wilson Chow contributed to this report)