LOS ANGELES  _ During an on-air interview, a Los Angeles radio station staged a surprise for Carly Fiorina by patching in a phone call from one of her rivals in California’s U.S. Senate race.

The brief encounter Thursday between the former Hewlett-Packard CEO and Orange County Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, both Republicans, was testy from the start.

Devore called Fiorina a flip-flopper.

Fiorina said Devore is distorting her record.

Devore challenged her to a debate.

Not now, Fiorina told him.

At one point, the former CEO told Devore to “quit attacking me and start talking to the voters of California about what you would actually do.”

“Is that a yes or a no?” Devore asked, referring to his call for a debate.

The duel on KFI radio lasted less than a minute but it foreshadowed what is expected to be a fierce campaign for the GOP nomination to challenge Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., in November.

Former U.S. Rep. Tom Campbell is also seeking the GOP nomination.

The on-air meeting was not happenstance. Devore was asked by a producer for “The Ken and John Show” to call in to talk to Fiorina, and the campaign agreed, said Devore spokesman Joshua Trevino.