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Overland Park, Kan. Three-term GOP Sen.PatRobertson Wednesday insisted during a contentious debate that his stronger-than-expected independent opponent is a liberal Democrat in disguise.

But Greg Orman, who has led or is running even withRobertsin typically Republican Kansas, has donated to Democrats, including Hillary Rodham Clinton, as well as Republicans, such as former Sen. Scott Brown, federal records show. Orman has refused to say which party he would usually vote with if the unexpectedly tight race were to break his way on Election Day a month off.

Robertswarned that in all the ways that matter in Washington, "by deed, by campaign donations, (Orman) is a Democrat."

"Who will he vote for to lead the Senate? Who will he caucus with? What committees will he serve on,"Robertswent on during the Johnson County Public Policy Council forum. Orman said later that he would consider voting for Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota or Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski for Senate leader.

StillRobertsrailed, "This man is a liberal Democrat. He will say otherwise, but that's not the case. "

Kansas has become the surprise battleground of the midterm elections, and an unnerving one for Republicans driving to gain the six seats the party needs to grab the Senate majority. Since Democrats nudged their candidate, Chad Taylor, from the race and supported the wealthy businessman-turned independent candidate, Orman has shown strength againstRobertsin recent polls.

A CNN/ORC poll released Wednesday showed the race in a dead heat:Robertshad support from 49 percent of likely voters, and Orman with 48 percent and a margin of error of about 4 percentage points.

Earlier in the week, an NBC News/Marist survey showed Orman leading with 48 percent toRoberts' 38 percent of likely voters, with a 3.9 percentage point margin of error.

Whether the question was on entitlement programs, immigration or health care,Robertsspent much of Wednesday's debate hammering Orman on trust issues. And Orman played it down the middle.

He said he contributed to the 2010 campaign of former Massachusetts Republican Sen. Scott Brown $2,000, records show in an effort to block the advance of the federal health care law President Barack Obama signed that year. But he said there is no point in trying to repeal it, asRobertshas proposed.

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Pat Roberts says independent opponent is a Democrat in disguise