CANDIDATES DEBATE DEBATES HAHN WANTS EIGHT FACE-OFFS, VILLARAIGOSA AGREES TO THREE.

Byline: Rick Orlov  Staff Writer

Fresh from their first runoff campaign debate, Mayor James Hahn and front-running Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa exchanged more sharp words Tuesday, arguing over how many more face-to-face confrontations they should hold and the acrimonious tone of the race.

Hahn called on Villaraigosa to engage in a total of eight debates leading up to the May 17 runoff. But Villaraigosa agreed to only three, pointing out that Hahn skipped 12 debates and forums leading up to the primary. He said Hahn, who finished a distant second, 10 percentage points behind the councilman, is seeking more debates and has turned to personal attacks out of desperation.

``I think you are seeing a candidate who is desperate and believes the only way he can defeat me is to demonize me,'' Villaraigosa said.

Hahn countered that Villaraigosa feared more direct confrontations that would deal with his record.

``You need more than a charming smile if you want to be mayor of Los Angeles,'' Hahn said. ``Antonio doesn't want to debate his record. He has a habit of bringing people in so he can take credit. I'm someone who likes to share credit.''

Hahn and Villaraigosa held their first debate of the runoff campaign Monday night at California State University, Northridge - a bitter, hour-long debate in which they went after each other with the central question of whom voters can trust.

That argument continued on Tuesday with Hahn saying he doesn't believe Villaraigosa wants to undergo the scrutiny more debates would bring.

``In an election, you have to be prepared to defend your record,'' Hahn said. ``I am. I'm proud of my record. I'm not sure Mr. Villaraigosa is. I haven't seen him show any real leadership at City Hall, that he's made a case that he can be mayor of the city.''

Villaraigosa, a former Assembly speaker who was elected to the council two years ago, said Hahn is running an attack campaign against him because he is trailing so badly in their runoff.

Villaraigosa said he participated in some 30 debates and forums in the primary election while Hahn attended only a handful. The Villaraigosa campaign released a list of 12 debates that Hahn passed up, including several in the San Fernando Valley and South Los Angeles.

``Now that he's behind, he wants to debate,'' Villaraigosa said. ``He had his opportunity.''

In the March 8 primary election, Villaraigosa finished on top with 33 percent of the votes cast, trailed by Hahn with 23 percent, followed closely by former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg.

``We have polls showing him 20 points behind and he is doing what he can to demonize me,'' Villaraigosa said. ``He is desperate.''

Hahn said he was unaware of any polling and that it would not shape his campaign.

``I always run as if I'm the underdog.''

The sharp tone of the campaign - so early on in the process - surprised some observers.

``I thought they would be more polite in introducing themselves to voters,'' said political analyst Sherry Bebitch Jeffe. ``Obviously, the mayor feels voters know who he is and he wants to try to define who Antonio Villaraigosa is for voters.''

Holding more debates - all of them scheduled to be televised live across the city - would serve to help Hahn in doing that.

``Antonio Villaraigosa owes the voters more than three debates,'' Hahn said. ``Let's quit playing games and give the voters a chance to see us face to face.''

Villaraigosa said he has agreed to other debates, but said he believes the public would be turned off by eight meetings.

``I am doing all I can to meet as many voters as I can,'' Villaraigosa said.

Also Tuesday, there was a brief confrontation between Hahn campaign manager Bill Carrick and a Villaraigosa campaign volunteer, who tried to come into a Hahn news conference with a sign reading ``Missing in action.'' Carrick refused to let him in the offices.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com