ALAN SUDERMAN
Associated Press

MCLEAN, Va. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and Republican challenger Ed Gillespie each claim they would be the more independent voice if elected to the U.S. Senate.

Warner and Gillespie debated in front of business leaders Tuesday in Northern Virginia.

Warner, a former Democratic governor, tried to distance himself from President Barack Obama by citing several areas in which he disagrees with the president, including energy issues and foreign policy.

Gillespie, a former lobbyist and chairman of the Republican National Committee, said he would stand up to his party’s leaders and only vote for bills that helped ease the burden of working Virginians.

The second of three planned debates was hosted by the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and moderated by Chuck Todd, the host of NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

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