CLEVELAND -- It was the showdown people have been waiting for -- the vocal critic of Ohio's election process, Democratic Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, engaged in a war of words with Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.

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Tubbs-Jones Versus Blackwell

The squabble occurred during a special hearing about November's election, and NewsChannel5's Angie Lau reported that the punches flew fast and furious right from the start.

It began with Tubbs-Jones accusing Blackwell of refusing to shake her hand before the hearing. Blackwell didn't deny it, saying, "I chose not to shake your hand until I saw how you can put yourself in this setting."

Tubbs-Jones explained to NewsChannel5 what happened during the confrontation in question.

"Mr. Blackwell was in the office, and he comes strutting out, and I stick out my hand, and say, 'Hello, Mr. Secretary,' he brushed me off ... and I said, 'OK, I know what kind of day this is going to be.'"

The exchange only got more heated from there. At the center of this verbal showdown is the $2.5 million voter education ad campaign starring Blackwell.

Critics accuse Blackwell of withholding information in the ads.

Tubbs-Jones said it's never personal, it's just politics.

When asked to comment, Blackwell told NewsChannel5 through an aide that he didn't want to rehash the incident.