The Republican and Democratic candidates for attorney general squared Monday in a debate held in Albany. Our Steve Ference was there and reports on where they stand on the issues - as they hope to gain your vote.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- "I was so frustrated with government I wanted to do something about it," said Republican candidate for attorney general, Dan Donovan.

"I'm someone who wants to continue Andrew Cuomo's work as an activist attorney general," said Democratic candidate for attorney general, Eric Scheiderman.

Two candidates for attorney general, two very different takes on each issue. Staten Island DA, Republican Dan Donovan sparred with State Senator Eric Schneiderman on topics like the recent inspector general report, slamming Senate Democrats for their handling of the failed AEG bid to run video lottery terminals at Aqueduct, allegedly costing the state millions.

"The corruption was so widespread in the Senate at a time when my opponent was in the leadership there and either knew what was going on and did nothing about it or should have known what was going on and didn't," said Donovan."

Schneiderman said, "I was never involved in anything to do with AEG. I voted against the bill, I didn't like the process, and I never included in anything."

Both men also commented on the recent news the state Economic Development Corporation may be looking to foreclose on the Luther Forest site - the largest construction project in North America. The state's move alleges that construction may be falling behind, arguing they need to get control or risk losing GlobalFoundries and thousands of jobs.

Donovan said, "A job where we make sure the contracts were legitimate, make sure fair wages are being paid. "

Schneiderman said, "We have to make sure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely."

Another big question - how the candidates would deal with improper or illegal behavior on Wall Street, especially after Donovan has been criticized for saying he wouldn't be a "sheriff of Wall Street." It's something that he clarified in the debate.

"We can root out corruption without destroying the industry," Donovan said.

Schneiderman said, "At 25 percent of your contributions from a guy who's an advocate for stopping the policing of Wall Street.

But both say they wouldn't give special treatment to anyone. And while each thinks the other isn't as qualified, they agreed on one basic qualification for holding office in New York - they know of nothing that could force them to step down in the future.

"There is nothing that I can think of in my personal conduct as boring as that might be," said Donovan.

"Me either," said Schneiderman, "and I believe Dan on this one."