Green Party offers colorful backdrop to Senatorial debate

Supporters of Green Party candidate Medea Benjamin began their protest on the sidewalk in front of KRON-TV, then pushed into the stations' lobby. Benjamin was excluded from the debate under ground rules adopted by the station and the Feinstein and Campbell campaigns.

About a dozen police officers blocked the demonstrators and arrested two people. One was identified as Northern California campaign director June Brashares. Both were immediately released.

The protest did not delay the debate's start.

Meanwhile, in the upstairs studio, Campbell and Feinstein differed on immigration and the Republican Campbell's proposal to help addicts kick the habit by giving them access to drugs.

They also clashed on Social Security financing and drug policy. Campbell said the federal government's plan to give $1.3 billion to Colombia for an anti-drug program was the first step toward a "third world jungle war." Feinstein said though current anti-drug efforts have not succeeded, she opposed offering drugs to addicts. Both favor gun control and abortion rights -- two hot-button issues in California.

Any differences on issues have been overshadowed by Campbell's claim that Feinstein has conflicts of interest arising from her husband's financial dealings and that she failed to fully disclose them.

Campbell raised the issue in their first debate Tuesday in Santa Monica. He hammered it again at a San Francisco news conference Friday afternoon.

Feinstein's husband has an array of financial interests, including some in China affected by Feinstein's Senate votes, Campbell said. Feinstein denies Campbell's assertions. She said she has supplied complete disclosure information.