WASHINGTON — Sens. Christopher “Kit” Bond, R-Mo., and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who differ ideologically but who have worked together on vterans’ issues, went at it Tuesday afternoon on cable TV over the plight of average Americans.

Bond arguably had the tougher assignment, of defending the administration’s energy and economic policies, while Boxer could simply attack them. But Bond fared well in the exchange.

Boxer began by accusing President George W. Bush, in his remarks earlier in the day on the economy, of “just mumbling” about economic conditions. Boxer cited “the need for a change, in the way we value our workers and train them.” Speaking of the problems in gasoline prices and the housing situation, Boxer said, “people are hurting.”

Bond agreed that times are tough, but he said, “What we need to do is change 30 years of policy that’s kept us from developing energy.”

“If California doesn’t want to drill off shore, that’s fine, let them have that option, but Virginia does, Louisiana does, Texas does,” Bond added. “I think the people in Missouri understand. It’s economic 101. If you have constrained supply, prices rise.”