MANCHESTER-- Supporters of former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) and incumbent U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-Rochester) said their respective candidate gave strong performances in their debate here Thursday night.

The two squared-off in a debate sponsored by NECN, NHPTV, NHPR and PolitickerNH.com.

"Jeb starts with talking points and Carol gives facts," said Chaz Proulx, a Democratic activist who is running for the state senate against state Sen. Jack Barnes (R-Raymond) in district 17.

Proulx said he thought Shea-Porter's strongest moment was discussing Social Security and pressing Bradley to name a tax that she voted to increase on middle-class Americans.

"Carol had to ask directly whether or not he's for privatizing Social Security," Proulx said.

Bradley's spokeswoman, Alicia Preston, called her boss' debate performance "fantastic."

"I think Jeb was fantastic," Preston said. "He understands what New Hampshire voters want and not what Nancy Pelosi wants."

State Sen. Bob Clegg (R-Hudson) said he "learned a lot about both candidates."

But Clegg, who ran in the Republican primary, also said, "I'm shocked that Carol Shea-Porter didn't know what she was voting on. That's what's wrong with Washington that people often don't know what they're voting for."

Clegg said Bradley's strongest point was when he compared Shea-Porter's offshore drilling stance to the novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

"People understand you voting to drill, but drilling in impossible location doesn't make sense and I think people understand that," he said.

Other debate stories on PolitickerNH.com:

-'Plumber Joe' makes debut in 1st CD debate

-Debate analysis: Deeper conversation and deeper political truth