San Diego mayor's race is staying loud yet trying to be cordial

A Wednesday evening debate between millionaire businessman Steve Francis and San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders ended with them actually shaking hands, compared to their previous debate in which the incumbent refused to offer that gesture.

The debate sponsored by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association and the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce followed a day of spin by the two men vying for City Hall's top spot, according to San Diego's Union-Tribune.

San Diego's NBC affiliate reported that Sanders called Francis a, "world-class hypocrite," for criticizing campaign money because Francis has been a political donor to candidates for years. "Steve Francis is trying to buy this election, Sanders said.

Later Wednesday but before their debate, Francis accused Sanders of political "pay-to-play" favoring lobbyists, especially those representing developers with business before the city council. The millionaire businessman who has spent exhaustively on TV ads told reporters, "I'm really the underdog here, when you think about it."