Voters in the 4th district still struggling to make up their minds between Republican Rep. Christopher Shays and Jim Himes, his Democratic challenger, will have plenty of opportunities to size them up side by side this month. The candidates announced Friday they have agreed to square off in six debates before Election Day. A seventh joint appearance is on the books as well, though the campaigns were still in talks Friday afternoon over whether it would be billed as a debate or a forum.

Most of the face-offs are double-headers. They start today, when the candidates debate at 8 a.m. at the Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport and again at 11:45 a.m. at the Norwalk Inn and Conference Center.

Shays was scheduled to get a boost from a political celebrity on Sunday, with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) set to headline a fundraiser for him in Westport and then appear with him at a news conference.