Jotte Challenges Ballwin's Ann Wagner to 'Lincoln-Douglas' Debates

Congressional candidate Dr. Randy Jotte challenged Ann Wagner of Ballwin to a series of debates framed after the historical encounters of Abraham Lincoln and U.S. Senate incumbent Stephen A. Douglas.

Jotte, who resides in Webster Groves and works at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, said in an email that the series of six debates would allow the candidates to "present ourselves before the people in a straight-forward fashion.”

Jotte said three of the six debates should focus on reducing the national deficit, the economy and health care reform.

“These topics certainly are on the minds of the public,” Jotte said.

A representative for Ann Wagner, who Jotte will face in the Republican primaries for the 2nd Congressional District on August 7, responded this week with a written statement that stopped short of turning down the invite.

"Our campaign has held hundreds of events across the district over the last 11 months and look forward to participating in many more before Election Day," Campaign Manager Aaron Willard said.

In a Washington Post article published in January, Lincoln historian Harold Holzer addressed a similar proposal recently made by presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, who repeatedly has challenged President Barack Obama to Lincoln-Douglas styled debates. Holzer writes that "as famous as the debates are, their reputation far outweighs their value.":

"These lengthy rhetorical bouts tested the endurance of the audiences and the candidates. Rather than inspiring memorable words, they proved for the most part an embarrassment. The encounters were brutally sarcastic, featuring highly personal attacks rather than elevated discourse."