Daschle wanted lots of debates in 1986

A reader sent along the following excerpts from an August 29, 1986 Argus Leader editorial headlined "Time to quite debating debates, start debating":

First line: "It makes you wonder. When two lawmakers can't work out something as simple as campaign debates, how are they going to solve the nation's more pressing problems?"

Best quote: "Abdnor wants two or more debates' Daschle prefers eight or more. Daschle, the smooth talker of the two, is scoring political points by keeping his eagerness for so many debates before the public."

There's also the following interesting excerpt from an August 30, 1986, AP story in the Watertown Public Opinion:

Before the two U.S. Senate candidates appeared Friday at a question-and-answer session sponsored by the South Dakota 4-H organizations, Daschle approached Abdnor and suggested they compromise and hold four televised debates before the November election. Daschle said the compromise would be fair because he wants six debates but Abdnor has said he only wants two. 'Let's agree to four,' Daschle told Abdnor. 'Will you come halfway with me?"