Randy Iwase, struggling to climb out of the fog of political obscurity to become the Democratic candidate for governor this year, found his way to center stage last night in a debate broadcast live across the state.

And as much as he might hate to admit it, the credit for this move has to go to incumbent Republican Gov. Linda Lingle, who agreed to an open-format prime-time debate with her underfunded and less-well-known foe.

With vast campaign funds, high approval ratings and all the advantages of incumbency, there was little for Lingle to gain in agreeing to the debate, sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists.

But agree she did, and for a full hour she and Iwase went at it on everything from education and prison policy to the war in Iraq.

Viewers will have to decide for themselves who "won" the contest (it will be rebroadcast on KGMB at 4 p.m. today and on KFVE at 6 p.m. today). Clearly, Iwase had the most to gain from the event, since it was his first big chance to re-introduce himself to voters after years of service in the state Senate and on the Honolulu City Council.

For the past six years he has been chairman of the Hawai'i Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board, hardly a high-profile position.

While they differed on specifics (Iwase called for a specific withdrawal date for the U.S. to get out of Iraq, while Lingle said a specific timetable was unwise), there was considerable emphasis on style and experience.

Lingle spoke repeatedly of her administrative background as the state's leader for the past four years plus many years before that as Maui mayor. Executive experience like that does not come easily, she noted, implying that Iwase's years as a legislator and as a state employee lacks that cachet.

Iwase, meanwhile, took more than one occasion to point out that he was born and raised here and has the "heart" of a local boy. It is a point that Democrats frequently make in their political campaigns.

Among the sharpest exchanges between the two came on the issue of crime and punishment.

Lingle repeatedly pressed Iwase to say whether he would support her initiatives in areas such as a "three-strikes" law for repeat felony convictions, a sex offender registry and other law-and-order initiatives.

Somewhat reluctantly, Iwase suggested he agreed with these anti-crime efforts. But on the issue of what to do with people sentenced under such laws, the two differed sharply.

Iwase said he wants to build a new prison in Hawai'i in an unspecified "remote" area.

But where? Lingle pressed. It is one thing to say you will build a prison and bring inmates home from Mainland institutions. It is another to make it actually happen, she said, noting that people have vigorously fought any attempt to build a prison in their neighborhood.

Last night's debate is hardly likely to decide the race for governor. But if nothing else, it demonstrated that there is, indeed, a race and voters should start paying attention to it.

Reach Jerry Burris at jburris@honoluluadvertiser.com.