The Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon and Republican Congressman Kenny Hulshof squared off in their first debate Thursday, clashing over campaign finance limits and how best to help students afford rising higher education costs.

The forum also included Libertarian Andy Finkenstadt and Constitution Party candidate Gregory Thompson. The debate on the University of Missouri campus was hosted by the Missouri Press Association and occurred in conjunction with a celebration of the centennial of the university’s school of journalism.

Only once did an exchange prompt the debate moderator to call for a rebuttal, when the candidates discussed campaign contribution limits. During that exchange, Hulshof noted that although he would have signed into law the repeal of the limits that Gov. Matt Blunt did sign, he prefers a plan he previously outlined to reinstate the limits with greater reporting requirements.

Nixon, raising his voice, responded: “He doesn’t get it both ways. ... He doesn’t get the opportunity to stand here in front of you and say he supports limits when he said he would sign the bill ending campaign limits.

“That may be the way they work in Washington, but in Jeff City and Missouri, that’s not the doublespeak we operate under.”

After the debate, Hulshof said the current system, without limits, is better than the previous one with limits in which big donors funneled money through various committees to get around them. Asked if he would seek to restore limits if elected governor, he suggested he would.

Also asked afterward, Nixon told reporters he would introduce legislation next year to reinstate limits.

The candidates were asked about the problem of helping families deal with rising college costs. Nixon touted his “Missouri Promise” plan that would offer students who get good grades and perform community service the chance for four years of free college tuition.

But Hulshof criticized the plan because it requires students to begin at a community college before moving on to a university.

“We shouldn’t pick community colleges at the expense of four-year institutions,” Hulshof said.

Hulshof’s higher education plan would increase the amount of money for financial needs scholarships, with a portion dedicated to students focusing on math and science.

Otherwise, there were few fireworks.

“I want to put out on the table that I have high regard for the attorney general,” said Hulshof, who briefly worked under Nixon in the attorney general’s office before being elected as Missouri’s 9th District congressman in 1996. “But isn’t the greatness of our country the ability to hold someone in regard and yet be able to aggressively disagree with them, and distance yourselves or define yourselves and your positions?”

Both Hulshof, 50, and Nixon, 52, said the state was at a “crossroads.” Hulshof made references to problems he said were created during Democrat Bob Holden’s administration. Nixon took several jabs at Blunt, who decided early this year not to seek a second term.