Jim Gilmore and Mark Warner faced off Saturday in what some analysts are calling a duel of Governors. Both potential candidates for the U.S. Senate have experience as governor of Virginia.

Political Analyst Dr. Robert Denton, Jr. says, "In some ways, it really came down to a duel of their governorship."

The debate was held at the Homestead in Hot Springs and focused mainly on the energy crisis and offshore drilling. The candidates also addressed issues affecting people around the Valley.

Republican candidate, Jim Gilmore, says, "I have traveled through the Shenandoah area, specifically in Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Rockingham County and Lexington. People are talking particularly in the rural areas about the challenges gas prices are having on the agriculture."

Democratic candidate Mark Warner adds, "I also think that somebody who is governor, who brought jobs to rural communities across Virginia, who put in the kind of high speed internet and broadband connections. That's the kind of 21st Century infrastructure we need."

The debate also had both candidates defending their significantly diverse agendas.

Gilmore says, "Today, I have held him to his policies. We have defined those policies. He should run on them and stand by them and I know I will stand on mine."

While the debate may be the first of many between the two, experts are indecisive on which candidate won this match up.

Denton says, "I think Mark Warner did what he had to do so he gets out of here with his lead in tact. Of course you could say [Gilmore] won as well by being aggressive. So I think in a way they both won from the standpoint that they did what they had to do at this debate."

While analysts say Warner is heavily favored going into the election, they are not ruling out a tight race.