While federal issues dominating a congressional debate is not surprising, Republican candidates for the 11th district spent little time localizing the issues during a Tea Party-sponsored debate Saturday afternoon in Lake Ridge.

Sparring at the Canterbury Woods Center in the most Democratic-leaning precinct (Springwoods) in the Occoquan district, businessman Keith Fimian (R) and Fairfax County supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) focused most of their attention on big-picture items. That included how states' rights figured in to the Constitution, which candidate opposes earmark spending the most and border security among other topics.

Transportation came up briefly when Fimian discussed earmark spending. The 2008 GOP nominee who lost to now-Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11th) said, "If you have transportation something, you don't need an earmark for it; you need it to be in the transportation bill."

Herrity mentioned transportation when talking about his philosophy about the role of the federal government.

"One of my big frustrations as a transportation advocate over the years and as a supervisor is the fact that (when) you put $1 of federal money... into a transportation project, the entire project's 30 percent more expensive," he said.

He later added, "I called for in my transportation plan for returning our federal transportation dollars to the states and let them spend it more efficiently, 30 percent less."

Points of substantial distinction between the two candidates did not come often; they mostly played up their conservative credentials on issues like health care (both want to repeal the health care reform law and focus more on health savings accounts), states' rights (both favor Arizona's controversial new law cracking down on illegal immigration) and cutting federal spending while focusing on broad-based themes.

Instead, differences came in more rhetorical forms. For instance, Fimian said, "So what I called for is a permanent, total ban on earmarks. One year. Complete. Pat has called for a one-year moratorium on earmarks. But I think these things are terrible."

Herrity replied, "Yes, I said earlier that I support the one-year moratorium on earmarks, but my Web site and all my literature and everything I said very clearly says we need to end pork-barrel spending and earmarks. It's that simple. So, I'm not talking about a one-year moratorium."

Fimian challenged him further on calling for a ban.

"You need to read my lips because," Herrity said without a microphone before Fimian cut him off.

"No, because I'm asking you a specific question here because the insinuation is an issue here. Okay, I'm not sure what's on the Web site, I really didn't know when he changed his tune on earmarks, so what I'm asking now is are you calling as I have for a 100 percent, total, complete elimination of earmarks" said Fimian.

He passed the mic to moderator Vince Agnelli who then handed it to Herrity one last time during the exchange.

"I don't know how much clearer you can say it, Keith: end pork-barrel spending and earmarks. End pork-barrel spending and earmarks," said Herrity.

Both candidates mentioned some specific items when talking about cost-savings while using sweeping generalities at other times meant to elicit applause from the crowd more than state facts.

Specifically, Fimian proposed commissioning a study to find duplicate spending in government "and eliminate it."

Herrity called for the elimination of the federal Department of Education and he asked "why is the federal government involved in education?"

More broadly, and with a touch of hyperbole, Fimian, blasted every member of Congress in one swoop.

"All they care about is being re-elected," he said.

Herrity whipped out a hand-size copy of the Constitution when talking about executive signing statements.

"I think the first thing I'd do is send them a copy of the Constitution," he said before ridiculing the Environmental Protection Agency.

"You guys, quit exhaling, by the way," he said to laughs while discussing capping carbon dioxide emissions.

One national topic certainly familiar to Prince William residents is illegal immigration. Fimian attacked Herrity for calling Prince William's 2007 approach toward illegal immigration in "mean-spirited." His claim checks out and Herrity did use that phrase according to a Nov. 14, 2008 story in the Washington Examiner. Herrity also said in the same story, "I don't think they looked out for the legal immigrants. They were perceived as attacking immigrants period, versus making the strong distinction between illegal and legal."

Herrity elaborated on his point in an interview after the debate Saturday.

"What they needed to do in Prince William County was recognize the rights of legal immigrants. If they had started with, 'We're a country of immigrants,' it would not have been preceived" so negatively, he said.

Though he did not attack Fimian at all during the debate -- Herrity said he was following former President Ronald Reagan's famed "11th commandment" instructing Republicans not to speak ill of each other -- he did charge afterward that Fimian had his own problems, such as saying in 2008 that he wasn't really a full conservative, just a moderate that leaned conservative.

Fimian told the Fairfax Station-Clifton Connection newspaper for a story published Sept. 29, 2008, "I have always seen myself as a moderate that leans conservative."

He spoke with the Times briefly afterward, referencing Herrity's April 27, 2009 vote on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors that changed the real estate tax rate from $0.92 to $1.04.

"The amount I'm paying (in taxes) is much higher this year than last year," said Fimian, who put $100,000 of his own money into his campaign during the last filing perio.d

He mentioned that Herrity's real estate taxes increased too, adding, "That is no fun."

At first, Herrity rebutted the claim by saying, "The vast majority of Fairfax County residents saw a decrease in their taxes from that vote."

When asked directly if he own taxes went up, Herrity said, "Mine went up, like $100. My assessment didn't go down enough. The real issue here is I cut $100 million out of the budget in Fairfax County... You can always find exceptions to the rule."

Each candidate closed the debate claiming he was best equipped to defeat Connolly, though they had a bit of mix messaging.

"Thank God, we're going to get rid of 'hope and change,'" said Herrity, making a reference to the president's campaign slogan.

"We need people in there who are change agents. That is what I am. That is who I am. And I am the only guy in the race who is that," said Fimian.