Republican incumbent Matt Bevin and Democratic challenger Andy Beshear squabbled during their second debate in three days when they appeared on Kentucky Education Television together Monday.

Moderator Renee Shaw refereed the discussion — dominated by crosstalk — by quizzing the two contenders on various topics leading into the Nov. 5 election.

But the two rivals couldn't stay focused on many topics for long without taking personal shots at each other.

“You've never created a job in your entire life — ever. You’re the Hunter Biden of Kentucky,” Bevin said, referencing former Vice President Joe Biden’s son. "Everything you've gotten your father (former Gov. Steve Beshear) has handed to you."

Beshear said those sort of comments underscore the tone of Bevin's time in office and why the governor is so unpopular in the state.

"Just because someone disagrees with you doesn’t make them your enemy," he said. "But we've seen a temperament tonight, across theses debates and the last four years where you can't insult somebody and ask them to sit across the table to get things done."

Here is a rundown of the top moments from Monday's debate.

Beshear's promises grilled

Beshear, the state's attorney general, was put on his heels at the outset of the debate when he was asked how he will pay for his campaign promises, such as a $2,000 a year salary hike for teachers.

Leaders in the Republican-controlled legislature have made it clear they won't cooperate with Beshear's revenue plan, which relies on taxing expanded gaming, medical marijuana and closing loopholes on luxury items.

For subscribers:War is awaiting Beshear if he defeats Bevin. And he's already talking about how he'll win

The attorney general said, if elected, he would prioritize education within next year's budget using existing dollars. He added he would look for savings and begin by rescinding Bevin's proposed Medicaid work requirement, which a recent federal report said would cost $271.6 million to launch.

But Beshear said legislators will be enticed to support expanded gaming because, under his plan, it all would go toward the state's ailing pension system.

When Shaw pressed the Democratic contender on if that would require a constitutional amendment, Beshear said he believed it didn't require that higher legislative threshold.

"I believe we can do it directly through statute," he said.

Bevin barked back at Beshear, saying he had recently alluded to using executive authority to get his legislative goals accomplished. When asked by the moderator if that was his belief, Beshear repeated how the legislature could approve gaming.

Fundraising:Beshear continues to outraise Bevin in Kentucky gubernatorial race's final stretch

The debate also shot holes in what critics have accused as overstating how much gaming would bring in by the Beshear campaign. It says up to $550 million in tax receipts could be seen whereas others, such as the legislature, have projected less than half that amount.

"This is a pipe dream," Bevin said. "... You do not have the ability to pay for the things you're promising."

Bevin sticks by suicides in casinos

Bevin has been skewered by Democrats for the past three days for denying at Saturday's public debate that he ever said people kill themselves inside casinos.

When confronted again on Monday, the governor said he was responding to Beshear's specific wording that he had said suicides take place on a "casino floor" in the U.S.

"A casino yes, not on a casino floor," Bevin said.

"Why is there a difference governor," Shaw asked.

Background:Matt Bevin and Andy Beshear go head-to-head in 4th debate

"Because in casinos, you have casino rooms, you have parking lots, you have atriums, the numbers of people in Las Vegas alone," Bevin said.

Shaw later asked Bevin if he could provide evidence supporting the claim about suicides in casinos, but the governor quickly changed the subject.

"When did we get off on this topic," Bevin said. "It's about whether or not there's money to pay for these things."

Bevin stuck by teacher comments, too

Shaw didn't spare Bevin when asking the governor if he should apologize to Kentucky teachers for some of his past comments.

Bevin again said that his comments have been taken out of context, saying he has made comments critical of the Kentucky Education Association, the statewide teacher's union, which has resisted his pension reform efforts.

Voter guide:Where Andy Beshear and Matt Bevin stand on key issues

“They weren’t said about teachers,” Bevin said. “They were about people protesting businesses and other things of that sort."

No mention of Trump

Bevin called out Beshear for being supported by abortion-rights groups, while Beshear jabbed Bevin for his changes to health care.

Bevin again went after Beshear for sending his children to private school. Beshear reminded viewers Bevin had once said he would release his tax returns but later changed his mind.

But a topic that didn't come up during the hourlong discussion was President Donald Trump, who has had a big presence in the Kentucky race due largely to Republicans who know he is an asset.

The debate never turned to the president or the possibility of impeachment, which has been a favorite topic for the Bevin campaign. Beshear has tried to avoid mentioning Trump at all, and recent surveys show why.

A Mason-Dixon poll, which showed Kentucky's gubernatorial contest is tied, found statewide 65% of voters said they oppose House Democrats' efforts to impeach and remove Trump from office.

Trump also outpaces Bevin's approval numbers, according to the survey.

The poll shows 57% of Kentuckians approve of the president's performance versus 45% who approve of the governor. That compares to 39% who disapprove of Trump versus 48% who disapprove of Bevin.

Trump is scheduled to arrive in Lexington next Monday for a rally to excite Bevin's base on election eve.

Reach Phillip M. Bailey at pbailey@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4475.