In a sign of how close the race has become and its importance to the party makeup of the U.S. Senate, the third debate between Chris Murphy and Linda McMahon was noted for the hecklers and protestors in the New London venue.
The Day, one of the debate's sponsors, said in Tuesday's newspaper that the audience of 625 at the Garde Arts Center applauded and booed even after they had been asked to refrain. Murphy later claimed it was a McMahon strategy to throw him off his game.
"Linda McMahon brought a bunch of people here to try to shout me down off the stage because she's afraid of debating," Murphy told The Day after the debate. "She didn't fare too well in the first two debates, so her tactic tonight was to try and bring a bunch of people who would disrupt the debates."
Audience disruptions also caused McMahon's closing statement to be cut because the debate was aired live and time elapsed. Both closing statements were replayed on WTNH-TV during later news broadcasts.
The final of four debates between Murphy and McMahon will be held in Hartford on Thursday.
Did you watch Monday's debate? Who won this one?
Take our poll and tell us in the comments.