Republican Governor Rick Snyder faced off with Democratic rival Mark Schauer during their only debate on economy, education and taxes three weeks ahead of the November election.

Around 150 undecided voters were chosen to listen to the debate between Snyder and Schauer, which was held at the Wayne State University in Detroit, according to M Live's report.

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While Snyder said he helped uplift Michigan after a decade full of job losses, Schauer fired back by criticizing his opponent's decision to cut tax exemptions for retirees' pension, U.S. News detailed.

Gov. Snyder defended his 2011 approval of the rewritten tax code, saying they had to get rid of the very complicated Michigan Business Tax. He said they created a "fair system" that fostered job creation.

The tax plan aimed to reduce yearly business taxes by around US$1.7 billion, but it also resulted in credits and exemption cuts for retirees. Thus, it resulted in a US$1.4 billion rise in individual taxes, the report said.

Schauer, on the other hand, said Snyder only buried the state in a tax hole that was "US$1.8 billion deeper." The Democratic candidate promised to repeal the pension tax during the debate.

The governor argued that senior couples can still avail of up to US$40,000 in exemptions when they file their income taxes. The rewrite was approved to be fair to older state residents who were still employed, he explained.

The two rivals also debated on whether the governor reduced school funding, with Schauer insisting that there was a cut. Snyder, on the other hand, explained that he upped the state-backed funding by over US$1 billion.

Schauer emphasized how important public education is to economic stimulation, and said he will prioritize this in terms of budget. Schools nowadays have lesser "pupils dollars" in every room compared to four years ago, he argued.

The Michigan governor then referred to recent data from Senate Fiscal Agency which show that K-12 spending has increased by US$1 billion since he started his post.

When asked about gay marriage ban, Snyder declined to disclose his personal views on the issue.

Schauer, on the other hand, said gay marriage ban is detrimental to Michigan's economy because it discourages talented gay Americans from settling in the state. He turned to his opponent and called him out for opposing marriage equality, saying the move is wrong.

Based on recent polls, the race in Michigan looks tight just a few weeks ahead of the November 4 election. Gov. Snyder is ahead of Schauer by 3.2 percentage points, Real Clear Politics said.

Mark Schauer did not appear before the reporters during the post-debate discussion. Republicans suggested Rick Snyder's Democratic rival was just afraid to talk about his performance during the debate, the report said.

TagsMichigan debate, Mark Schauer, Rick Snyder, tax cut, public education, gay marriage ban, U.S. election