The first live debate of the 9th Congressional district campaign remained civil Wednesday night in Duxbury, even as candidates revealed strong, largely partisan differences on how best to represent the newly drawn district. The race pits Democrat William Keating, the current 10th district Congressman, against Republican Chris Sheldon, a business consultant living in Plymouth, and Independent Daniel Botelho, an operations analyst from Fall River.

Keating sought to highlight Sheldon's ties to the Tea Party, even as Sheldon, who is a member of the Plymouth Rock Tea Party, cast himself as a Republican in the model of Scott Brown. The  debate drew about 75 people and featured questions on topics ranging from health care and the economy to immigration and abortion.

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