Those who like their politics as bloodsport got their fix yesterday, as Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and challenger Mark DeSantis went toe-to-toe in the most spirited debate of the mayoral election.

Befitting the tension of a race that has only eight days left, Mr. DeSantis repeatedly went after the incumbent Democrat on ethics issues regarding a recent political mailing and his behavior while in office, while Mr. Ravenstahl responded with attacks on the Republican's promises to the city police union and his support from outside the city limits.

In his opening statement of the televised debate, Mr. DeSantis -- a South Side tech firm president making his first run for public office -- held up a Ravenstahl mailing stamped "Republican Insider: The DeSantis File." The single-page pamphlet points out, correctly, that Mr. DeSantis worked in the first Bush White House and contributed to campaigns for George W. Bush and Rick Santorum.

"It doesn't mention the Republican credential I have working for John Heinz. John Heinz was a moderate Republican [and] I'm glad to say I'm a John Heinz Republican," he said. "What I'd like to do is get back to the issues that matter and get away from the these petty partisan politics."

Later Mr. DeSantis said it was "sad" that Mr. Ravenstahl accused him of making a backroom deal with the Fraternal Order of Police to get their endorsement, but the mayor refused to back down on the matter.

"My opponent sold the city down the river for the endorsement of the FOP and I'll repeat it here this morning," Mr. Ravenstahl said, referring to the Republican's promise to let police and other city workers live outside the city limits.

"My opponent has mentioned his plan to fight crime through community-oriented policing ... Nothing flies in the face of that more than letting police officers move outside the city," the mayor continued.

"It continues my opponent's trend of talking about outside the city ... Four of the six individuals who are on his policy committee live outside the city. His campaign chairman lives outside the city. There's a common theme happening here and if I'm a voter in the city of Pittsburgh, these are issues that are important to me."

In rebuttal, Mr. DeSantis, 48, mentioned the mayor's request for several city directors to resign in June, before keeping most of them on in September.

"I'm not sure why Mr. Ravenstahl -- if he's so opposed to people from the outside moving here and working for the city -- why he launched a national search [for replacements] ... City of Pittsburgh employees are public servants, not indentured servants," he said.

Yesterday's debate at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill was co-sponsored by the United Jewish Federation and WPXI-TV.

The two candidates are vying for a special two-year mayoral term triggered by the death last year of Mayor Bob O'Connor. Mr. Ravenstahl, the former City Council president, rose to the office in September 2006.

The first question from moderator David Johnson regarded the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial board endorsement yesterday of Mr. DeSantis, its first of a GOP mayoral candidate in 38 years.

Mr. Ravenstahl said he was not surprised by the nod and "despite what a paper might say, my goal and my objective has been to talk to the voters and put an aggressive policy in place to deal with the issues that are most important to them."

Mr. DeSantis said, "It is an honor to have received these endorsements. In many ways these are historic endorsements, because I think we're in historic times. We're at a point where people in the city want to see change."

Mr. Johnson also asked the 27-year-old mayor about a trip to New York in Penguins owner Ron Burkle's jet hours after reaching a deal for a publicly financed arena, and taking a police SUV, purchased with federal Homeland Security funds, to a Toby Keith country concert.

"The last 13 months has been a learning experience in many ways and I want the residents and the voters to understand that I do understand and appreciate the magnitude of the office of mayor, greater today than perhaps I did 13 months ago," Mr. Ravenstahl said.

But he also defended the incidents and said criticism of his behavior has been politically driven.

"I value my relationship with Ron Burkle. He is the owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins and he is going to invest millions and millions in the lower Hill District ... I am grateful for that relationship and we were able to enhance that relationship that evening."

"With the SUV to the concert, I drive a city vehicle everywhere I go. That's the role of the mayor. I'm on call 24/7. When a phone call comes in at 3 a.m. that there's a fire in East Liberty and six young children were just killed, I respond to that call," he said.

"The mayor has made some mistakes and they are well-documented," said Mr. DeSantis. "The real problem I have is ... I don't see any humility. I don't see any acceptance of responsibility for these mistakes."

The next debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. tomorrow at Point Park University, co-sponsored by KDKA-TV and the League of Women Voters.