With little more than a week until the election, the gubernatorial candidates’ have intensified their attacks, hammering each other over their policies and initiatives.

Incumbent Gov. Jim Douglas took the first swings at his two challengers, Independent Anthony Pollina and House Speaker Gaye Symington (D-Jericho), holding a press conference Monday morning criticizing their economic policies.

Douglas argued that the economic principles of Symington and Pollina are “fundamentally flawed” and lacking detail, claiming he had the experience and know-how to help boost the economy, foster job growth, and aid struggling Vermonters.

“This is no time for hollow rhetoric that sounds good, but isn’t really going to help Vermont’s families pay the bills or help businesses create good jobs,” Douglas said in a statement on Monday.

This wave of Douglas’ attacks shortly follows his criticism of Symington’s tax policies on Friday.

But the Symington campaign fired back, claiming that Vermont's economy had been shrinking before the national economic crisis.

"Vermont’s failing economy provides undeniable proof that what Jim Douglas is doing isn’t working, and that's why more and more Vermonters aren't working," said the Symington camp in statement."

Pollina, however, had his own charges against the governor, and held his own press conference Monday afternoon.

In a statement, he said he planned to focus on Douglas’ past agriculture initiatives and claimed that the governor had failed to invest in Vermont’s agriculture. The independent candidate also argued the governor was wrong for failing to support his Vermont Credit Card. The state-sponsored card would invest a portion of purchases in local agriculture and renewable energy programs.

"Jim Douglas has failed to invest in Vermont farms, failed to increase Vermont farmers' income and now criticizes the Vermont Credit Card proposal, which creates a fund to invest in Vermont agriculture,” Pollina said. “He could not be more wrong or more out of touch with Vermonters' priorities.”

*Symington and tax policies story

*Vermont credit card story