First of 7 gubernatorial debates set for Helena

HELENA — Democrat Steve Bullock and Republican Rick Hill square off Tuesday in the first of seven scheduled debates, giving voters a chance to see what the campaigns call sharp differences between the two candidates vying to be Montana's next governor.

The Helena meeting will be the first between Hill, a former congressman, and Bullock, the state's attorney general, 50 days before the Nov. 6 election. Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a popular Democrat, can't run again due to term limits.

"It's been a long time since we've had two candidates for governor this far apart on the issues," Hill spokesman Bro...