Former U.S. Rep. Ed Case took an assertive tack Thursday night in the final debate with U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono before the Demo­cratic primary for U.S. Senate, casting Hirono as a fringe liberal who considers the federal budget deficit "an inconvenience." But Hirono picked apart Case’s record in Congress, citing votes on family planning, prescription drug coverage for seniors and immigration that are likely to be unpopular with many Demo­crats.

In the live 90-minute television debate sponsored by Hawaii News Now and the Star-Advertiser, the moderate Case sought to make a distinction between what he described as the "easy votes" as opposed to the "right votes."

"Mazie believes that a budget is not important. Mazie believes that a budget is an inconvenience. I believe that you have to provide some fiscal responsibility and stability in order to afford Planned Parenthood — for assistance for women — in order to afford a whole range of items into the next generation."

The liberal Hirono zeroed in on the portions of Case’s record where he appeared more in line with national Republicans, not only on budget-related votes to cut family planning or against expanding prescription drug coverage for seniors, but also on other public-policy choices.

Hirono, an immigrant who came to Hawaii from Japan as a young girl, asked Case whether he regretted voting for "Arizona-style legislation" such as giving state authorities the power to deport illegal immigrants.

Case at first said Hirono statement was not true, then later claimed she was cherry-picking through thousands of votes. He said he believes in legal immigration.

"The bottom line here is that we have to find reasonable ways of curbing illegal immigration. There has to be a consequence to illegal immigration," he said.

Case repeated his opposition to a third federal economic stimulus package to help with economic recovery, but clarified that he supports provisions of President Barack Obama’s jobs initiative. Hirono suggested that Case was confused, because at a debate in June, he responded to a question about the president’s jobs bill by saying that he did not support another stimulus.

"Let’s not forget that in this state alone there are so many people in the construction trades who are sitting on the bench," Hirono said. "President Obama’s jobs plan will enable these folks to get the jobs that they need. We need to get our economy going."

The debate, while perhaps revealing to voters who were unfamiliar with Hirono and Case, did not introduce many new issues to separate the candidates. Hirono and Case share broad agreement on social issues, the environment and renewable energy but disagree over how to contain federal entitlements and reduce the federal budget deficit.

But some new creases did emerge.

Asked about gun control in the wake of the mass shooting at a movie theater in Colo­rado last week, Case, who said he hunted growing up and has used guns for target shooting, said he does not believe in unlimited access to semi-automatic weapons or to high-capacity ammunition clips. Hirono said there should be a national discussion on the appropriate way to balance the right of individuals to have guns "and the right of the community to be safe."

Case said he supports term limits for Congress. Hirono said voters can decide through elections.

Asked to cite a specific budget cut, Case said he would reduce spending on some advanced weapons systems. Hirono said she would let the President George W. Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy expire.

Asked how she differs from U.S. Sen. Daniel Ino­uye, D-Hawaii, who supports her campaign, Hirono pointed to her opposition to oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Case joked that his candidacy is a "declaration of independence."

A new Hawaii Poll released Thursday showed Hirono with a double-digit lead in the primary. Both Hirono and Case had double-digit advantages over former Gov. Linda Lingle, the leading Republican, in a potential November general election.

Thursday night’s debate was the fifth and final exchange between the two Demo­crats before the primary, and the only one that aired statewide on commercial television. Case had called on Hirono to participate in more than two dozen debates, but Hirono agreed to only five, with none on commercial television.

After the first four debates were completed and a fifth looked in doubt, Hirono changed course earlier this month and offered to debate Case on commercial television. Some political analysts interpreted Hirono’s switch as concern that the primary with Case had grown more competitive. But Hirono’s advisers said it was to test themes and remove the notion that she was afraid to debate in the primary as an issue Lingle could later exploit.