I say Keyes should poll 30% before Obama agrees to debate him. . .

[wndycty]

Keyes is a fringe candidate. He does not deserve to debate Obama just because he is the Republican nominee he needs prove he is viable. If Keyes does not poll 30% and want to debate Obama he should not be able to do it one on one and they should include the other fringe candidates.

[Walt Starr]

1. BINGO!!!!!

I'll write a LTTE to the Chicago Tribune immediately to suggest that!

[billbuckhead]

3. Obama should say Keyes isn't a legitimate candidate

Why debate someone who knows nothing about Illinois? More politcally, why give the wacko right a megaphone?

[yellowcanine]

2. I think Obama should debate him - to guarantee a 50 point margin of

victory. The contrast should demonstrate how out of touch Keyes is with Illinois voters. Even the hard core Republicans can't be happy about this tokenistic opportunism at its worst. Talk about quotas! If the Illinois Republicans wanted an outspoken conservative to run, why didn't they get Oliver North?????? Oh he's white, isn't he? I was hoping they would go for old Henry "cheatin heart" Hyde, but I believe they topped that by choosing Keyes.

[sui generis]

5. I agree - the ONLY place to expose him is in a debate

Remember that repug nutjobs like Keyes are very skilled at appearing reasonable to people who don't have an opportunity to scratch below the surface. You can be sure that will be his technique from here on out as he refines his game.

I think that Obama will remove the mask of reasonableness and expose the raw bigot whackjob underneath, and the only place to do that is in a debate when he can have him on the run by asking him real questions that require real answers.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. He probably won't debate him

Obama has absolutely nothing to gain from it. The polls probably aren't going to be close enough to justify it.

[Mel]

6. I want to see Obama debate Keyes

with the same grace he gave his speech at the Convention! If anyone can bring the 'What's the Matter with Kansas' out into the open it's Obama.

[Kierkegaard]

20. I agree

Obama is one seriously sharp dude. Let him make some GOP burger out of Keyes.

[ContraBass Black]

7. Remember the name of his TV show?

"Alan Keys Is Making Sense!" :P

[sampsonblk]

21. I Watched that Show Every Night

Alan Keyes does make sense. I think he is wrong 99% of the time. But his arguments are food for thought (and real debate), unlike Limbaugh and Hannity and O'Reilly.

I think Obama should show some courage and slay this dragon, so to speak, right away. If he does that, he may solidify his place as a national political figure for a long time.

[tomfodw]

8. Good point from Kos

"The big question is whether Keyes' cynical run (and race) will depress GOP turnout in a state Bush has no chance of winning. Because if so, we may be looking at two or three stronger pickup opportunities in congressional races in the state."



Unless Obama screws up, he's going to win. Ditto for Kerry. We need to bust a few of the Republican congressmen. Obama needs to tend to his own garden, for sure, but he and Kerry could stump for a few Democratic House candidates too, while they're on their way to piling up record victories of their own.

[wndycty]

9. I tend to agree . . .

. . .I think Keyes hurts the GOP in a few congressional races.

[Walt Starr]

15. If you want to help somebody who has a shot now

send Gloria Andersen a sawbuck via the link in my signature.

[Cha]

16. I wonder why Illinois is such a smart Democratic state?

How is the Govenor Rod R. Blagojevich doin' there?

[buycitgo]

10. hah! make it twenty!

how humiliating would THAT be if he couldn't even get there

he's scaring people off so fast with that rabid acceptance speech that he'll be in third place soon

[JI7]

11. agree, Keyes is not where near the level of Obama

Obama earned and worked hard by getting in the primary and running against others and campaigning hard to win it, and proven himself nationwide with his keynote address at the convention.he has shown he has appeal.

Keyes needs to prove he is worthy of standing on the same stage as Obama. just being a candidate of the republican party isn't enough.

i think the people of illinios deserve to ask obama questions much more than keyes deserves a debate against him.

[wndycty]

12. At thispoint Keyes is a fringe candidate and he should be treated as such

:kick:

[Cha]

17. Obama declined to go on colmes/faux

show with keyes. That's a good start.

[Walt Starr]

19. It would be hilarious if Obama becomes a Superstar

as opposed to being a rising star today, and then refused to ever appear on Faux.

That would CRACK ME UP!!!!

[elperromagico]

13. Obama should offer to debate Keyes in Maryland.

It's only fair. ;)

[wndycty]

14. LOL

:kick:

[dogman]

18. Obama should call the shots at this point.

An honest debate would be interesting but there is no reason to open himself to a vicious attack by a hired gun. Keyes was brought in to take out a Dem star. He has nothing to lose, he's dishonest and vitriolic. Once the election is over the state GOP will deny knowledge of his mission. You know this is just an assasination like the GOP has done on many people of strong character that they see as a threat in the future.