U.S. Senate candidates Kay Hagan and Elizabeth Dole — who have yet to debate in public — were very close to tussling over the issues before a public audience.

It would have been a long-distance forum — not quite a debate — but at least open to the public, Barb Barrett reports.

Hagan, the Democratic challenger, said she couldn't make it to the event, scheduled for Thursday. She plans to be voting in Greensboro.

But Dole will be there, at a public forum from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Thursday at Wake Technical Community College's Student Services Lounge, 9101 Fayetteville St., in Raleigh.

The forum is co-sponsored by Rock the Vote and Generation Engage, a nonpartisan group working to get young people interested in elections. Dole, the incumbent Republican, will take questions from both a moderator and members of the audience.

Hagan, too, was invited, said Leah Borkin, spokeswoman for Generation Engage.

More after the jump.

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