Wisconsin’s two senate candidates concluded their series of debates Friday night in Milwaukee, giving the candidates one last chance to spar against one another on serious issues such as the economy and healthcare.

In an election filled with negative campaign ads, the third and final debate between the two candidates opened with them discussing their negative portrayals in the media.

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said she disagrees with the label of having “the most liberal voting record in Congress,” saying instead she would prefer to be known as progressive.

“Power special interest groups have way too much control of the government, and I want the people to have a voice,” Baldwin said. “I want to be a voice for hard-working middle-class people.”

Thompson, who has often been attacked his employment with a Washington lobbying firm, said he has no regrets about jobs he has held in the past and clients he represented. He added Baldwin’s campaign is “spending millions to tear him down because she has nothing else to run on.”

Thompson went onto stress multiple times how as governor of Wisconsin he worked with Democrats, Republicans and Independents to create 742,000 jobs and 91 tax breaks while in office.

Thompson said his number one job if elected would be to balance the budget.

“We are in a fiscal crisis, and if it isn’t resolved, it will turn into a fiscal abyss,” Thompson said Congress hasn’t balanced the budget it three and a half years. When I was governor, I balanced the budget every year. First, we balance the budget, then we have to get the economy moving.”

Baldwin said her number one job if elected would be to fix the economy.

Baldwin said she has already been working to grow the manufacturing industry and also address tax incentives that benefit overseas jobs.

“People and families across Wisconsin are working hard and playing by the rules. They are trying to get ahead, but they are still only getting by,” Baldwin said. “We need to make sure there is a level playing field.”

Members of both campaigns came away believing their candidate won the last of three senatorial debates handily.

According to Peter Anich, president of Young Progressives and chair of Students for Obama, Tammy Baldwin was clearly victorious in this debate.

Anich said Baldwin clearly presented her ideas and her vision to move the country forward.

He added the debate was significant because Baldwin had the opportunity to restate her ideas before the final election, but in the end, it comes down to getting out and knocking on doors to spread the word to vote.

However, Nathan Conrad, spokesperson for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, said in a statement Thompson decisively defeated Baldwin on Friday.

“Wisconsinites have a clear choice on Election Day; they can stand by the man they put their trust in for 14 years as governor, or they can roll the dice with a candidate that is willing to say anything to get elected, even if that means bending the truth in order to do so,” Conrad said in the statement.

Conrad added in his statement the final debate gave voters the chance to see Thompson as a “true leader with a vision for this country.”

Donald Downs, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin, said Thompson calling attention to his former experience as governor of Wisconsin during the debate might help him in winning the senate race.

“Thompson was very popular as governor,” Downs said.

Downs said the only negative things people say have to do with what Thompson did after being governor.