DALLAS - Behind in the polls and funding, Democrat Rick Noriega went after Republican incumbent John Cornyn Thursday night in their final debate in the race for U.S. Senate.

Noriega accused Cornyn of failing Texas families on the economy, but Cornyn said it was time to take a stand to turn it around.

In the debate that aired on public television KERA-TV, Noriega took the final opportunity while standing next to Cornyn to criticize his vote for the bailout bill.

“It put them first, Wall Street financiers, before Texas homeowners,” he said of Cornyn's vote.

But Cornyn explained the bill also contained millions in aid for the hurricane ravaged Texas Gulf Coast, tax breaks on the state sales tax and the AMT tax for families and tax credits for renewable energy in the state.

“All I've heard you say about this is you would've voted no," Cornyn fired back at Noriega. "You have no constructive alternative.”

Once again, the two tangled over Cornyn's vote last year against expanding children's healthcare insurance costing $35 billion more over five years.

Cornyn defended the vote.

“Before you go insure a family making up to $80,000 a year in places like New York, why wouldn't you take care of these low income Texas children first?” he said.

Noriega pointed out how the state’s senior senator voted.

“This last time, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison voted for it,” he said.

On energy, both said they support offshore drilling for more oil. Both support growing renewable sources.

Regarding college costs, Noriega, who's a state representative, said he opposed tuition deregulation.

“We need to provide additional opportunities with expanded Pell grants, lowering interest rates on the Pell grants,” he said.

Cornyn also wants more financial help for college students.

“That's why I have supported lower interest rates for student loans," he said. "I've supported expanded Pell grants.”

But with the economy the top issue in Texas, voters will choose which candidate will be best for their pocketbooks.

E-mail bwatson@wfaa.com