CHEYENNE - A debate Monday night between Democratic hopefuls for the U.S. Senate covered topics ranging from the candidates' party credentials to a national energy policy and campaign spending.

Nick Carter, a defense attorney from Gillette, and Keith Goodenough, a Casper city councilman and former state legislator, are competing to run against Republican Sen. John Barrasso, who's unopposed in his party's primary.

The winner of the general election in November will fill the remaining four years of the late Sen. Craig Thomas' term. Barrasso, a doctor from Casper and former state legislator, was appointed to the seat last year after Thomas' death.

Monday's televised debate was held at Central Wyoming College in Riverton and was sponsored by the Wyoming Public Broadcasting System, Wyoming Public Radio and the Wyoming Business Report.

When he introduced himself, Goodenough touted that he's never accepted money from special interest groups when he won seats in the Wyoming House and Senate. He said he's never accepted more than $100 from any individual contributor.

"I do this because I have a very deep belief that special interest money is corrupting the entire political system, not only in Wyoming, but in the nation at large," Goodenough said.

Both candidates urged the creation of a national energy policy. Carter said a transportation plan, including a nationwide passenger rail system, should also be a part of that policy.

"What the United States lacks is a comprehensive energy, environmental and economic policy that makes sense, along with a transportation policy," Carter said. "We're paying the price right now for a lack of any sort of energy policy over the past 30 years."

Later in the debate, Goodenough questioned Carter's commitment to the Democratic Party, saying Carter has only been registered as a Democrat for the "last 17 months out of the past 16 years."

Carter didn't challenge Goodenough's assertion. He characterized Wyoming as a "one-party state" and said he was registered as a Republican so he could have more of a voice in Campbell County elections for offices such as sheriff or county commissioner.

"That being said, I've always been a staunch Democrat," Carter said. "I feel like the Democratic Party best represents where Wyoming and the United States needs to go."

Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face a general election contest against a well-funded opponent in Barrasso, who is also well known around the state.

Barrasso had raised $1.9 million as of the end of June, the latest reporting period for the Federal Election Commission. Carter had raised about $111,000, while Goodenough had not raised the $5,000 necessary to file a fundraising report.

A second debate among the two Democratic candidates seeking to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Mike Enzi was canceled because candidate Al Hamburg did not show up to debate candidate Chris Rothfuss.