In a new ad released this week, Steelman is taking aim at Hulshof's spending record in Washington, D.C. But, in their first debate, it was Hulshof who first raised the issue to defend himself -- and Steelman pounced.

Hulshof is ahead in his own polls but he was on the defensive on Friday over a spending bill that he voted for in Congress.

“He's voted for 11,000 wasteful earmarks, including the bridge to nowhere,” says Steelman’s ad.

“You can take votes out of context and you can rail away. Okay, that's politics,” said Hulshof at the forum.

Hulshof said he voted for the bill because it included a record $1.3 billion in new money for Missouri highways.

“I'd like to know, since I'm being criticized, would you have voted for that bill?” Hulshof asked Steelman.

“If I would've been there, I would've worked as hard as I could to take that out of that bill because that is what shows leadership,” said Steelman.

Steelman was referring to the spending projects, such as $200,000 for Lobster Institute in Maine and $50,000 for the National Mule Museum, often known as earmarks, that often get stuck into appropriation bills without a specific vote.

“Are these your priorities?” asked Steelman.

Hulshof explained he couldn't pick and choose.

“It was either yes for more funding for highways for the state of Missouri, or no,” he said.

Steelman wouldn’t back down.

“My opponent was there to bloat the bureaucracy,” she said.

Steelman took aim at Hulshof for voting for a sexual enhancement pill to be covered by the federal government.

“You voted to continue to reimburse through Medicaid, taxpayer dollars the use of Viagra, so I guess that's a priority of yours,” she said.

Steelman says this is all relevant in a race for governor because it shows whether a candidate will have the courage to stand up and say no to special spending projects here. Hulshof says he can defend all the projects that he's brought back to Missouri.