Burr, Marshall Split on How to Mend Economy

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina's leading U.S. Senate candidates offered competing visions Monday on what the federal government should do to encourage job growth and rein in the national debt.

In a debate just three weeks from Election Day, Republican Sen. Richard Burr blamed unpredictable taxes and regulation for stunting the nation's nascent economic recovery.

"Let's make tax rates and regulation predictable," Burr said. "Let's give private capital a reason to come into the marketplace and expand businesses and to create jobs."

Marshall laid out a different vision, suggesting the nation should be offering tax credits for creating jobs. She emphasized a rebuilding of the middle class and criticized free trade agreements for pulling jobs away from the United States.

"We've got to help small business," Marshall said. "We've got to help provide the credit they need so that they can create the jobs that we need."