BLUEFIELD, W.Va. -- U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall and Republican challenger Elliott "Spike" Maynard clashed repeatedly over who's a bigger supporter of coal Tuesday in the first debate between the two candidates for the state's 3rd Congressional District.

Maynard and Rahall, a veteran Democrat, made it clear the election centers on coal mining and jobs in the state's southern counties. While they seemingly agreed on the need for stronger safety laws following the Upper Big Branch explosion that killed 29 miners in April, they clashed over the Obama administration's efforts to curb surface mining in the region.

Maynard portrayed Rahall as one of the industry's attackers during the debate televised by WVVA-TV in Bluefield.

"He's a longtime Washington insider. He is a member of the team that is waging war on coal," Maynard said, lumping Rahall in with President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson. "I won't be."

Rahall countered that his congressional record as a supporter of surface mining dates to 1977 and as a veteran Democrat he has leadership positions on key committees to fight off efforts to eliminate the practice.

"I also know very well that there's a growing movement in Congress to eliminate this practice," Rahall said. "Guess who's stopping the bill?"

Maynard is a former Democrat and state Supreme Court justice. He switched parties last November after losing his bid to be re-elected to the court as a Democrat.

Maynard agreed that unsafe mines needed to be held accountable but that the industry shouldn't be constrained.

"We've got to focus first, always in coal mining, always on safety," Maynard said. "But we have to mine coal."

Rahall urged new mine safety legislation.

"These tragedies beg out for justice and for a response and they cry out for stronger mine health and safety laws," he said.

The pair also traded shots on health care -- Maynard attacked Rahall for supporting Obama's reform legislation -- and mundane issues such as roads.

"If I were chairman of roads and transportation, my district wouldn't have the worst roads in the United States," Maynard said. "I'd just like to get the potholes fixed on Route 52."

Rahall, vice chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, chided Maynard for supporting road construction despite his promises of less government spending.

"Now you're saying we ought to be spending money on roads," Rahall said. "Which way is it, Spike? Which way is it?"