"Anyone who would go out and commit a capital crime deserves, in my mind, to suffer capital consequences," he said.

The Q & A session was lively, as several audience members sparred verbally with Robinson on different issues. When one student said that an across-the-board capital gains tax would disproportionately favor richer Americans, Robinson responded, "Even bus drivers have stock portfolios these days. You're not going to tell me that they're rich, are you?"

Going Against the Grain

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The success of Robinson's candidacy has been hampered by scandals almost from the start.

In March, after the press focused on a series of embarrassing personal details from his past--including allegations of a drunk-driving arrest and a restraining order issued against him by his former girlfriend--Robinson lost the endorsement of both the statewide and national Republican establishment.

During the summer, Robinson appealed to the state Supreme Judicial Court before his 10,000 nominating signatures were finally approved and his name was reinstated on the ballot.

And in August, Robinson was involved in an automobile accident while conducting a radio interview from his cellular phone and was also pulled over for driving almost double the speed limit in Connecticut.

Last night, Robinson blasted the press's coverage of his campaign.