Roy Moore said Luther Strange lacked character and challenged Strange to say whether his office was investigating former Gov. Robert Bentley when Bentley appointed Strange to the Senate.

Strange ignored Moore's question and accused Moore of resorting to attacks to cover up a lack of knowledge on issues. Strange repeatedly talked about his endorsement by President Trump, which the president will emphasize with a campaign appearance for Strange on Friday night in Huntsville.

The two candidates went at it tonight in a 70-minute, no-frills debate. It comes five days before Tuesday's runoff for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. The televised event in Montgomery will be the only debate of a hard-hitting six-week campaign.

Using no moderator, the candidates gave opening statements and then took turns giving statements and rebuttals before closing remarks.

Moore asked Strange about the circumstances of his appointment by Bentley. Bentley appointed Strange in February to temporarily fill the Senate seat Jeff Sessions left to become attorney general.

A few months before, Strange had asked state lawmakers to suspend an impeachment investigation of Bentley because his office was doing related work.

"We both know it is highly improper to accept gifts or favors from someone you're investigating," Moore told Strange.

"What's the truth? Did you sir, have Robert Bentley, the former governor who appointed you to the Senate, under investigation while you were applying for that appointment?"

Strange did not answer. He stuck mostly with his main theme for the night, that Trump was backing his candidacy because the president knows he can help achieve his agenda in Washington.

"We have got to get results done," Strange said during his opening remarks. "That's what the president is all about. That's why he's endorsed me in this race. That's why we've become friends."

After the debate, Strange was asked again about whether he was investigating Bentley at the time of the appointment.

"I've already answered that question a million times," Strange said.

Strange has said he did Bentley no favors and has pointed out that Bentley resigned from office under a plea deal two months after the appointment.

State Auditor Jim Zeigler stood behind a group of reporters during the brief Strange interview after the debate. Zeigler shouted at Strange to answer the question about the Bentley investigation.

"Answer, it Luther," Zeigler said. "You dodged it tonight, now answer it."

Strange did not respond and said "let's go to the next question."

Strange accused Moore of not knowing issues well.

"He just wanted to attack, which I guess you have to do if you don't really know the issues."

Moore said asking Strange about the Bentley appointment and talking about Strange's background as a Washington lobbyist did not amount to attacking Strange.

The two candidates shook hands briefly after the debate.

Tuesday's winner will face Democratic nominee Doug Jones on Dec. 12.

Strange talked about the Trump endorsement throughout the debate, saying the key issue was which candidate was best suited to help the president achieve his goals.

Strange talked about his work as Alabama's attorney general, including his joint efforts with other Republican attorneys general to block initiatives of the Obama administration on immigration and the environment.

Strange mentioned his personal Christian faith and efforts as attorney general to protect religious liberty. He talked about the economy and what he said was a successful record on helping create jobs, including work he did for Hyundai at the time the company chose to build an assembly plant in Montgomery.

Strange also talked about his work as attorney general on the BP oil spill settlement negotiations, saying he dismissed a plaintiffs firm hired by his predecessor and led the litigation himself, saving taxpayers millions in legal fees.

Moore noted that he was a West Point graduate and Vietnam veteran and said he had proven credentials in fighting liberal federal judges.

Last year, the Alabama Court of the Judiciary suspended Moore from his position as chief justice for the remainder of his term after he advised probate judges to continue enforcing the state ban on same-sex marriage.

Moore brought that issue up tonight and accused Strange of "caving" to the U.S. Supreme Court when it legalized gay marriage in 2015.

Moore also criticized Strange for changing his position on the Senate filibuster rule. Strange now opposes the 60-vote requirement to break a filibuster after signing a letter in April in support of keeping it.

"So why did Luther Strange, just weeks ago, suddenly decide that he would reverse course?" Moore asked. "I'll tell you why. Because he will do anything to get this job. And that's called lack of character."

Strange returned again and again to his endorsements by Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who is also coming to Alabama to campaign for Strange.

"You know why they're coming?" Strange said. "Because they want to get things done. And they've looked at my record and they've looked at my opponent's record and they made a decision."

Moore, whose campaign received a boost tonight when former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin led a rally in Montgomery, also talked about his support for Trump's agenda.

"This race is not me against the president," Moore said. "It's not me against the vice president. It's me against Luther Strange."

Moore said he has been the target of relentless attack ads from the Senate Republican leadership, which backs Strange. He said he was confident voters would not be swayed by those tactics.

"I want to tell you, the people of Alabama see through this," Moore said. "They see through what Washington is trying to do, and they're upset. Go read the blogs. Go read the Internet, Facebook pages. I think we'll have a huge turnout. And we look forward to the results."

Strange touted his record as attorney general, including the prosecution of former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard on ethics charges. Strange recused himself and appointed a special prosecutor in that case because his campaign had used a printing company that Hubbard partly owned. Strange said the case wasn't easy or politically expedient.

"I talked to Jeff Sessions and said we've made a lot of people mad at the State House by following the truth wherever it leads, going after the speaker of the House, a Republican," Strange said.

Moore talked about what he said was a misleading campaign ad that indicated he did not support Trump's plans for a wall on the Mexican border. He said his comments were taken out of context.

"I've always mentioned that we can stop illegal aliens crossing our borders immediately with the United States military," Moore said.

"We can't sit on our haunches and wait until a wall is built to do something about immigration."

Strange said a vote for him on Tuesday would be a vote of support for the president.

"It will be a test of our state," Strange said. "It will be a test of our people. Are we going to support our president, or not? I believe we will. I believe we're going to support our president by voting for me on Tuesday."

Moore said he trusted Alabama voters and said he believes they are well informed.

"I have fought in Vietnam," Moore said. "I fought in the courts here in Alabama against liberal judges, federal judges who try to make us do things. And I'll fight for you in the United States Senate."