Former Congressman Pat Toomey, left, addresses a question from the audience Wednesday as Congressman Joe Sestak listens during a health care reform debate at Muhlenburg College in Allentown.

ALLENTOWN — Two candidates from opposite ends of the political spectrum — but united in their desire to oust Sen. Arlen Specter — debated health care Wednesday night at a town hall-style meeting that allowed them to raise their profiles while keeping the incumbent on the sidelines, at least for a few hours.

Former Republican Rep. Pat Toomey and Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak offered starkly different visions of health care reform during their televised debate at Muhlenberg College in Allentown. Neither mentioned Specter by name.

Toomey's popularity among conservatives prompted Specter to bolt the Republican Party in April. Sestak is defying party leaders, including President Barack Obama, by challenging Specter in next May's primary. Both accuse Specter, 79, of flip-flopping on the health care debate.

Anger at Obama's plan to overhaul the health care system has erupted at recent town hall meetings hosted by members of Congress across the country. But questioners at Wednesday's town hall were unfailingly polite, and the audience of nearly 400 listened attentively to the candidates' answers.

There were few sparks, although Sestak's contention that the House version of health care reform will not add to the national debt drew derisive laughter from many.

"Did I part my hair on the wrong side?" he quipped.

Toomey, meanwhile, attracted scattered hisses when he said Medicaid had high rates of infant mortality.

Sestak, 57, accused health insurance companies of "cherry-picking" the rich and healthy when deciding whom to cover. He said he favors a government-run insurance option that will force private insurers to compete and offer better service, leading to a system in which "everyone can have health care."

Toomey, 47, said he supports "common sense bipartisan reforms" to rein in spiraling costs and improve access to health care. But he said a "huge government intrusion" into one-sixth of the U.S. economy would prompt employers to stop offering health insurance to their workers, forcing them into the government-run program.

"Do we believe we can't have competitive grocery stores unless we have a government grocery store?" Toomey said.

Toomey lost the 2004 GOP primary to Specter by about 17,000 votes out of 1 million cast. He faces competition for the 2010 Republican nomination from anti-abortion activist Peg Luksik. A Quinnipiac University poll in July showed Toomey neck and neck with Specter in a hypothetical general election matchup.

Sestak is a retired Navy vice admiral from the Philadelphia suburbs who is serving his second House term. Besides Specter, he faces opposition in the Democratic primary from state Rep. Bill Kortz, a former U.S. Steel Corp. manager from Western Pennsylvania.