Senate Candidates Debate at Knox

Andrew Civettini, assistant professor of political science at Knox College, takes notes at the debate between Democrat Richard Durbin, U.S. Senator from Illinois, and Republican Steven Sauerberg, who is challenging Durbin in the November election. The debate was broadcast statewide by the Illinois Radio Network, moderated by Craig Dellimore of WBBM and Melissa Hahn of IRN.

Civettini, an expert on political campaign advertising, provided post-debate commentary for IRN's Galesburg affiliate, WGIL. The radio station's website has archived audio from the debate and Civettini's post-debate interview.

Richard Durbin

Steven Sauerberg

Other debate coverage included:

• Chicago Tribune: Only days after backtracking on questioning Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin's patriotism, Republican challenger Steve Sauerberg reheated the issue Thursday by accusing him of actions that "emboldens the enemy" and "puts our soldiers in danger" in Iraq.... The remarks by Sauerberg, during a debate at Knox College in Galesburg, prompted Durbin to ask "where the bottom is" in his opponent's campaign...
• Chicago Sun Times: Republican challenger Steve Sauerberg accused incumbent U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of endangering troops in Iraq by criticizing the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, prompting an outraged response from Durbin as the two debated Thursday night... Thursday night's hour-long clash at Galesburg's Knox College was the only full-length debate of the Senate race...
• Daily Illini: Knox College hosted the Lincoln-Douglas debate 150 years ago. Thursday night, United States Senate candidates Steve Sauerberg and incumbent Democrat Dick Durbin made their arguments for the seat...
• Galesburg Register-Mail: When Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas held their historic debate at Knox College a century and a half ago, the pair had to clamber through a window to get to the podium, as Knox President Roger Taylor recounted Thursday. Sen. Dick Durbin and Steve Sauerberg found it a lot easier to get to the podium, when they debated at Knox last night 150 years and two days after the famous Lincoln-Douglas debate. But, while the way to the podium may have been easier, the debate was just as ferocious as it was then...
• Register-Mail Columnist Tom Loewy: Maury Cohn admitted he will turn 14 next month and is a freshman at Galesburg High School. He passed on whatever it is soon-to-be 14-year-olds normally do, to attend a debate on Thursday night... between little-known Illinois Senate candidate Steve Sauerberg and Democratic incumbent Dick Durbin...

"Worst foreign policy mistake of our time, possibly of all time..." Richard Durbin, Democratic U.S. senator from Illinois on the invasion of Iraq.

"To leave Iraq now would be to take off with the job half done..." Steven Sauerberg, Republican challenging Durbin in the November election.