Pfingst said he couldn't talk about the incident again other than to say it was the most horrific experience of his life.
His opponents question whether the encounter ever occurred.
"The roar of laughter that went through the D.A.'s office -- I've never seen anything like it. I haven't heard one person say they believed it," said the prosecutor association's president, Mark Pettine.
Dumanis' character issues were brought up at a public forum during the primary race. A member of the audience posed an anonymous question asking whether any of the candidates had been treated for mental illness. Dumanis told the audience she had attempted suicide 16 years ago as a delayed reaction to her sister's murder.
She believes Pfingst's campaign consultant, Larry Remer, planted the question because she says he tried to get reporters to write about the issue three weeks before. Remer denies it. And Pfingst says he hasn't been involved in any kind of campaigning other than addressing their professional differences and experience.
Each candidate has raised about $500,000. They are spending their final contributions on a series of 30-second prime-time TV commercials. Their aim is to address judicial issues. Character is never mentioned.
