Slavitt ridiculed this plan, noting that Harvard’s tax-exempt status is written into the Massachusetts State Constitution.

“Taking a public position that you want to tax Harvard and its endowment is simply demagoguery,” Slavitt said. Later he loudly chastised Toomey: “It’s not going to happen! You’re perfectly aware it’s not going to happen.”

Toomey casually responded, “I’m a loyal Red Sox fan, so I do believe everything is possible,” drawing cheers from the audience.

While the debate appeared to end in a draw, the election may not be as closely contested. Toomey has strong ties in heavily Democratic Cambridge, and he already overcame a strong primary challenge from fellow Democrat Avi E. Green. And Republicans—even centrists like Slavitt—rarely have a chance in the “People’s Republic of Cambridge.”

Though Slavitt remains a long-shot, his campaign manager Fred Baker remained upbeat about Slavitt’s candidacy.

“It’s an uphill battle. Even if we don’t win, we’re going to turn some heads trying,” Baker said.

—Staff writer Michael M. Grynbaum can be reached at grynbaum@fas.harvard.edu.