Watch The Very Hostile Debate Between Josh Welle And Chris Smith

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Watch the big face off! Fourth District Republican Congressman Chris Smith squares off with Democratic challenger Josh Welle in a special "forum" hosted by News 12 New Jersey.

The meeting between the two men, filmed in the News 12 studio, was meant to be more of a conversation or forum, and not an actual debate. But things got hostile almost immediately.

"You don't believe women should have equal pay, you don't believe women should have reproductive freedoms in this country," Welle attacked Smith. "To call you a leader is oxymoronic ... You don't lead on issues that matter today."

Watch the entire debate: http://newjersey.news12.com/story/39320211/power-politics-conversation-with-the-candidates-of-district-4#

"We have been watching Mr. Welle ... and he has been disappointing to the extreme in how often he will say something that is not true," countered Smith. "For example, he said that I wanted to take away — deprive — seniors of Social Security in a tweet on July 22. On Oct. 16 I just got the endorsement of the national Committee to preserve Social Security and Medicare."

Smith then accused Welle of running a business "that quite frankly failed," and then failing to accurately report his business taxes, to which Welle responded that he ran a very successful business that folded after two and a half years, and that he owed only $1,000 in taxes.

This debate marks one of the rare times during the campaign Welle and Smith have faced off against each other, or even met in person. Smith is trying to keep his seat as the Fourth District's congressman, a job he has held since 1981. Welle, a Democrat and also a U.S. Navy veteran, is trying to knock him off, sensing that 2018 is the year to flip the traditionally-red Fourth District to blue.

New Jersey's fourth congressional district includes parts of Monmouth County, parts of Ocean County and a small portion of Mercer County. The forum was hosted by News 12's Eric Landskroner. The debate was filmed last Wednesday. The midterm election is Nov. 6. Welle and Smith will again be debating this Thursday, Oct. 25 in a forum hosted by the Asbury Park Press.

Ongoing Patch reporting:

Josh Welle Under Fire For Owing Back Taxes

Company Disputes Josh Welle's Explanation Of Unpaid Taxes