Sestak and Toomey proved to be ideological opposites who disagreed on practically every issue , including abortion , health care , energy , social security and the recent stimulus bill and financial bailouts . Sestak favored the bailouts of the United States financial system , automobile industry and mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , claiming they saved many jobs and homes . Toomey condemned them as a waste of taxpayer money that rewarded irresponsible behavior . Sestak praised the financial regulatory reform bill before Congress as " a victory for the American people over Wall Street " that would protect the economy from shadow banking and toxic assets . Toomey said it did nothing to prevent taxpayer bailouts of failing corporations . Toomey also argued against a proposed cap and trade bill , which he said would encourage firms to move manufacturing jobs overseas and force Pennsylvania businesses to close . Sestak claimed the bill would help businesses by lower energy costs in the long-run , claiming , " Pat Toomey is in the pocket of big oil , and big oil does n't want alternative energy . " Following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico , Sestak criticized Toomey for his support of offshore drilling in Lake Erie , claiming the proposal risked placing 90 percent of the country 's surface water in danger . Toomey said he simply supported allowing states to retain the right to make decisions about drilling , and claimed Sestak was too willing to cede control to the federal government . Both Sestak and Toomey sought to portray themselves as the ideal candidates for small business issues . Toomey campaigned on lower taxes and less regulation , and released a 30-second television advertisement emphasizing his experience as owner of a small chain of bars and restaurants in the 1990s . Sestak countered that image , however , citing past court depositions that indicated Toomey was not very involved in the businesses and delegated most responsibilities to his brother Steven . Sestak said he would help small businesses through tax cuts and federal loan guarantees
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
2010 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania