Bean, Greenberg cordial -- to a point

As is often the case, the conversation was civil until the topic turned to money.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean and Republican challenger Steve Greenberg talked about the Iraq war, the financial crisis and health care Wednesday night during a joint appearance on WTTW-TV Channel 11's "Chicago Tonight."

The 8th House District candidates expressed their views and barely acknowledged each other until moderator Elizabeth Brackett asked Greenberg about his comparatively lackluster campaign fundraising.

Bean's campaign had raked in nearly $2.7 million in donations as of July, according to the most recent federal records available, while Greenberg had brought in less than $676,000 from backers.

Greenberg used the question to take a swipe at the corporate donations Bean has received, particularly those from troubled financial companies such as Freddie Mac.

"My opponent is part of the problem," said Greenberg, a business owner and former professional athlete from Long Grove.

Bean, a two-term incumbent from Barrington, denied most of her campaign donations have come from special interest groups. She fired back by saying she didn't mind that Greenberg hasn't had a lot of financial support.

His coffers are low, she said, because he hasn't spent millions from his family's personal wealth on his campaign, as some political pundits had expected.

The roughly 12-minute discussion was the second head-to-head meeting for the candidates.

They also met Saturday during a candidate forum in Schaumburg.

As for the other topics discussed on "Chicago Tonight," the economy took center stage. Both candidates backed the federal bailout of the financial industry, but they differed on points.

Bean said she didn't know the details of presidential candidates Sen. John McCain's or Sen. Barack Obama's newest economic plans, while Greenberg opposed Obama's call for tax credits for companies that create jobs.

Greenberg supported affordable health care but said the government should get out of the way and let doctors and patients deal with paying for medical services.

Bean, however, said people - especially those who are unemployed - should have access to larger health-care pools.

On Iraq, Greenberg said U.S. troops need to stay in the Middle East nation "to win," contradicting previous comments he's made to the Daily Herald. Bean believes Iraq has begun to stabilize and said troops there should come home or be deployed elsewhere.

The 8th District includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.