Republican U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen forcefully defended her record against attacks from Democratic challenger Annette Taddeo, who tried to paint the incumbent as a Bush rubber stamp.

The two sparred at Wednesday's congressional forum, their only scheduled joint appearance. Ros-Lehtinen has not agreed to televised debates, saying people in the 18th district, which stretches from north of Bal Harbour to Key West, already know her.

Taddeo, still largely introducing herself to voters, portrayed herself as an outsider fed up with politics.

''This race is about the past versus the future,'' said a serious, seated Taddeo, who owns LanguageSpeak, a translation services company.

19 YEARS IN OFFICE

An energized Ros-Lehtinen, who repeatedly jumped from her chair to address the crowd, called out to supporters seated at nearby tables to plug the bills she has championed during 19 years in office.

''Stand up, river rats!'' she urged one group after touting funding she helped secure to dredge the Miami River.

Explaining why she voted against the first financial bailout plan last week and then backed the second version, Ros-Lehtinen cited the revised bill's more than $100 billion in tax breaks -- which Taddeo called ``pork.''

''Thanks to us who voted no, we have a good package,'' Ros-Lehtinen said, adding that Wall Street executives should lose their jobs and not receive large payouts.

Retorted Taddeo: ``You are the one who voted for deregulation, for President Bush, and now you say they have to be punished?''

MIXED REACTION

Then, to both cheers and boos, she added, ``We also need to let you go.''

Taddeo pounced on Ros-Lehtinen's votes against expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or S-CHIP. Ros-Lehtinen replied that the program is not run properly, with adults benefiting from it in some states.

Ros-Lehtinen also stood behind her support of privatizing parts of Social Security -- which Taddeo opposes -- arguing that people should invest parts of their accounts to get higher returns.

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