The hours-delayed results of Lake County voting sparked a live, late-night sparring match between Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. and Gary Mayor Rudy Clay.

Both mayors appeared in CNN's live election night coverage, with McDermott in a Chicago-based studio, and Clay live via telephone.

McDermott, a Hillary Clinton supporter, defended county workers, but questioned why it was taking so long to fully count and report some results, including those from Gary.

"There's an appearance of impropriety," McDermott said late Tuesday night about the late vote totals out of Lake County. He went on to say he was not accusing anyone but "it looks improper" and Lake County doesn't need the negative publicity.

"Release the numbers, Mayor Clay, because this is ridiculous," McDermott said.

McDermott said he walked into Hammond precincts earlier in the day, getting vote counts at the push of a button. "It's a computer," he said.

Clay, who is chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party and an Obama backer, had his own take on the situation. "There is no hanky panky going on here in Lake County," Clay said.

Clay reiterated several times during the interview that early voting ended at noon Monday and the 11,000 votes were being counted diligently, so as not to disenfranchise anyone. He said it's the largest early voting totals in the history of the county, as well as a record voter turnout overall.

Clay said the vote totals would be coming within minutes.

"We are counting them as we speak," Clay said.

Moments later the Associated Press called the state for Clinton.