The rivals in the U.S. Senate election in Florida argued over issues including abortion, firearms and foreign policy during the testy 60-minute exchange, in the only scheduled debate between the pair.

Newsweek has spoken to a number of political commentators, from both right and left, to assess who emerged from the debate victorious.

Rubio held the advantage over Demings, by 47 percent of the vote to 41 percent, according to a poll released earlier this month by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy.

On abortion, Rubio, senator for Florida since 2011, described himself as “100% pro-life” because “I don’t believe that the value of human life is determined by the circumstances.”

Demings, who currently represents Florida’s 10th district in the House, hit back using her past experience in law enforcement.

She said: “As a police detective who investigated cases of rape and incest, no, Senator, I don’t think it’s okay for a 10-year-old girl to be raped and have to carry the seed of her rapist.”

The debate became particularly tense over gun control, with Demings accusing Rubio of doing “nothing to help address gun violence and get dangerous weapons out of the hands of dangerous people.”

Rubio fired back commenting: “A lot of people own AR-15s and they don’t kill anyone.”

On foreign policy, Rubio said the U.S. needs to strengthen its forces in the Indo-Pacific region to counter an increasingly assertive China, and said the military needs to focus on warfighting over the “proper use of pronouns.”

Demings said “there has to be a response” if China invades Taiwan, adding both Beijing and Moscow need to be held “accountable.”

Speaking to Newsweek, Armando Ibarra, president of the Miami Young Republicans, argued Rubio had put in the stronger performance.

He said: “Senator Rubio made a convincing case for re-electing him: he has a record of results while Val Demings has a record of failure. Marco has proven effective in delivering for Florida families, and that was clear in tonight’s debate.”

However, Annisa Karim, chairwoman of the Collier County Democratic Party, said the debate proved Demings is the stronger candidate on firearms, reproductive health and climate change.

She commented: “The debate showed the world what we’ve known in Florida for years. Marco Rubio is ineffective; he reverted to name calling and sidestepping questions instead of addressing the everyday concerns of Floridians.

“As a ’law maker’ Marco said (in reference to gun laws) he doesn’t want to pass gun laws. He’s done nothing to mitigate the number of mass shootings while continuing to accept millions of dollars from the NRA. He refused to answer the question on supporting social security. He’s got one of the worst voting records as a Florida Senator.

“Val Demings confirmed she will protect a woman’s right to access reproductive health care, she will protect social security, she will fight for safe schools, and she acknowledges that climate change is real and needs to be addressed.”

Jonathan Martin, chair of the Lee County Republican Party, said the debate proved Rubio is the “clear choice” for Florida voters.

Speaking to Newsweek, he said: “Tonight’s debate allowed the voter to see the difference between a successful Senator who has worked regularly across party lines to pass effective laws and an inexperienced legislator who only votes along party lines for failed Leftist policies. The former, Senator Rubio, was the only grownup on the stage while Demings simply shouted over him many times baselessly calling him a liar.

“The voters who saw that debate left with a clear understanding that Senator Rubio is the clear choice in this race.”

A recent WPA Intelligence poll found the Democratic Party’s advantage over the GOP among Latina voters is at its lowest point since 1994, at 54 percent to 33 percent.

On Tuesday Republican Liz Cheney hit out at Kevin McCarthy after the House minority leader suggested U.S. aid to Ukraine could be cut, saying Kyiv shouldn’t be given a “blank check.”