Presumptive Republican nominee Senator John McCain is cleverly cornering his political counterpart, the presumptive Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama, into a series of unmoderated Presidential debates that recall the famous Lincoln-Douglass debates of 1858. It is a particularly crafty proposal from the Senator from Arizona because the early days of Senator Obama's campaign were carefully choreographed to mirror those of the 16th President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln. "And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a house divided to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for President of the United States of America," is how the Senator from Illinois began his campaign in February 2007.

The Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 are among the greatest examples of political rhetoric in the history of the world. Those seven debates for a coveted United States Senate seat from the state of Illinois took place between incumbent Senator Stephen A. Douglas, a Democrat, and his challenger Abraham Lincoln, a Republican. It is unfortunate that an American student could today graduate from high school never having read these magnificent debates on subjects ranging from racial equality and slavery to the idea of popular sovereignty. Lincoln ultimately lost the Senate race, but his principled and eloquent opposition to the institution of slavery gained him national prominence and, two years later, a rematch, where he returned to defeat Douglas to become President of the United States.

Senator McCain has proposed publicly that the first such debate could occur as early as next week at Federal Hall in Lower Manhattan. Considering the financial gap between McCain's organizational fundraising and those of his well-financed Democrat opponent, McCain could certainly gain from the free publicity. It seems likely that Senator Obama, a rhetorician of uncommon talent, will accept McCain's bold proposal as the format suits his talents.

Senator Obama's economic speech at The Great Hall at Cooper Union and his "A More Perfect Union" speech on race last March in Philadelphia suggest an acute understanding of American history. Still, Senator John McCain, who has issued the challenge, should not be discounted. He has vast experience in the arena of foreign policy - where, no doubt, the debates will linger -- and while stiff in front of the teleprompter, he has debated for hundreds of hours on arcane subjects of importance the the Republic from the well of the United States Senate. Even as the Obama campaign pivots from comparisons to Lincoln to being a continuation of the Kennedy legacy, it will be hard to predict a winner. But the obvious winners of this great contest would be the citizens of this country.

[image: Encarta]