Walsh, Daines meet in first Senate debate

BUTTE (AP) — U.S. Sen. John Walsh and U.S. Rep. Steve Daines debated for the first time Saturday as the campaign for a race that could help determine control of the U.S. Senate got underway.

Walsh, the Democratic incumbent, is seeking to retain the seat Gov. Steve Bullock appointed him to in February.

Daines, a first-term Republican congressman, jumped into the race after Democrat Max Baucus announced he wouldn’t run again and later resigned to become ambassador to China.

The third candidate, Libertarian Roger Roots, is the wild card.

Daines stuck to his campaign theme that he would work to increase jobs and reduce government interference, and he accused Walsh of wanting to grow government.

“It’s time that we put an end to the overreach of this president,” Daines said.

“Let us in Montana run our lives and grow our businesses and raise our families.”

Walsh alluded to Daines as an obstructionist congressman who won’t vote yes for anything. Daines’ message of more jobs, less government is an easy one to say, Walsh said, but he actually did something when he was elected lieutenant governor in 2012.

“I entered the race because Washington is broken. Washington has a spending problem, and our congressman is a part of that problem,” Walsh said.

Roots said both his opponents are part of “government supremacist parties” who have both voted to grow government, regardless of what they say.

“Every measurement of well-being improves when there is freedom and free markets,” Roots said.

Walsh repeatedly reminding the audience of Daines’ vote on a contentious budget bill that partially shut down the government, while Daines said Walsh supported proposed EPA regulations to cut carbon emissions and the president’s health care law.

“John says the jury is still out. I’ve got news. The Montana people have rendered a verdict. They don’t like (it),” Daines said.

Both touted legislation they’ve introduced or supported, from bills calling for a balanced budget to ones addressing long waits for appointments at Veterans’ Affairs hospitals.

Walsh, the only U.S. senator who served in Iraq, said the war there hurt the U.S. greatly.

“I honestly do not believe we should have sent our men and women, knowing what we know today, into Iraq,” he said.

President Barack Obama should bring home all troops in Afghanistan, he added.

Daines says troops should only be sent to foreign countries if there are clear objectives and if overwhelming force is being used.