JOHNSTON -- A final high-stakes debate in the race for governor Saturday yielded a testy scuffle between Republican Jim Nussle and Democrat Chet Culver over the future of gambling in Iowa.

Nussle, a U.S. representative, accused Culver of having a "secret plan" to either revive the Iowa Lottery?s defunct and controversial TouchPlay game or to hand a billion-dollar settlement to businesses harmed when the games were banned.

? Culver, Iowa?s secretary of state, called the charge "crazy" and said he has no plan to bring back TouchPlay or make a deal.

The rivals clashed in a debate sponsored by The Des Moines Register and broadcast on Iowa Public Television. Just two weeks remain before the Nov. 7 election.

? "I don?t want to turn every street corner in Iowa into a casino," Nussle said. TouchPlay machines had been installed in nearly 3,000 locations before lawmakers voted to ban the games in March.

? Dozens of investors who sank money into the games have filed a lawsuits against the state claiming $1 billion in losses.

?? "Based on the record that is out there today, we know what?s going to happen. There is a secret deal on a settlement for $1 billion. Mark my words. There?s been a deal made," Nussle said.

? Culver said there is no deal.

? "What part of ?we?re not brining TouchPlay back? did you not understand?" Culver said.

? Nussle based his claims on tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to Culver from business owners who profited from TouchPlay before lawmakers pulled the plug. At the top of the list is Kum & Go chairman and co-founder Bill Krause.

? Krause recently donated $25,000 to Culver?s campaign. Earlier this year, Krause publicly pulled financial support from Nussle?s campaign when the Republican said he favored a TouchPlay ban.

? Culver rejected the notion the contribution pointed to a secret deal, arguing Krause roomed with his uncle at the University of Iowa.

"It?s a family friendship, and we?re excited to have support from so many businesses," Culver said. He argued Nussle has taken contributions from Iowa casino owners.

? Nussle tried to interrupt Culver. "What?s that got to do with TouchPlay?" Nussle said.

? Nussle told reporters after the debate that, beyond the campaign donations in question, he has no evidence a secret deal is in the works.

? "I think it speaks for itself," Nussle said. "I believe that there probably is a plan and there has been a plan."

? Democrats labeled Nussle?s claim as "desperate," pointing to recent polls that show Culver leading the race. They compared the secret plan attack to Republican Jim Ross Lightfoot?s claim late in the 1998 campaign Democrat Tom Vilsack supported totally nude dancing as a state lawmaker.

? "It?s the fourth quarter of this election. He?s down and there?s just a couple of minutes left to go in the game," Gov. Vilsack said. "And what you do in that situation is throw that Hail Mary pass."

? The candidates also were split on prospects for other gambling expansion.

? Nussle said he does not favor further expansion. But Culver said he would be in favor of granting new casino licenses in the future once a current fleet of new facilities is up and running.

? "I think places like Ottumwa and Fort Dodge should be first in line," Culver said.

? Nussle argued the state would be better looking for other ways to grow.

? "I don?t think casinos and gambling is the way Iowa should develop in the future. I think we have enough gambling," Nussle said.

Culver and Nussle also offerd the following opinions on other issues:

- Hog confinements. Culver said he favors giving local officials the power to determine where livestock confinements can and cannot be built; Nussle said he does not favor local control, arguing that the health of the livestock industry depends on a consistent set of statewide rules.

--Minimum wage: Both candidates said they would sign bills raising Iowa?s minimum wage with no strings attached; Nussle has said in the past that he?d like to tie a minimum wage hike to other tax and regulatory reform; Culver accused him of flip-flopping Saturday.

-- New proson: Culver said he favors construction of a new maximum security prison to replace the aging facility at Fort Madison; Nussle said other changes must be made before the state pursues the costly course of building a new prison.

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