Candidates for New Orleans mayor debated on live television for the second time in a week Monday, going head-to-head on insurance policy, economic development and the city budget days before some voters begin to cast ballots in the October election.

State Sen. Royce Duplessis maintained his attacks against consensus frontrunner Helena Moreno in the debate, which aired on WDSU-TV. Duplessis has flung critiques at Moreno, the City Council vice president, in recent days as he seeks to cut into her double-digit polling lead in the race.

The punchy 30-minute debate otherwise hewed closely to policy questions from the moderator, WDSU-anchor Gina Swanson. The election is Oct. 11, and early voting begins Saturday.

Amid ongoing debate at City Hall and on the campaign trail about the size of New

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