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He did try to hold his own, but too often he stole 5 or 7 minutes to give an answer that involved a personal anecdote that had nothing to do with the topic, and that played on people's hearts.

He brought up the wellstone funeral 4 times!

He called Ann a liar for HER quoting of Tom Daschle's comments in his book that Trent Lott got bood at the funeral, then tried to make a bet with her that Lott was NEVER BOOED OFF THE STAGE at the funeral...Ann tried to get it back on topic, repeating that she was QUOTING Daschle's comment in Daschle's book, and tried to make the wager that this snippet was in Daschle's book, but Franken insisted the bet be on whether Lott was booed off the stage.

I believe Ann tied to explain how Daschle's book recounted that Lott was booed away from the funeral for certain, but she did not insist on the detail of Lott being booed off the stage, but Franken held to the stage part for his bet.

Ann tried to keep it to the facts, like any thinking person would, but Franken played it well, he kept it on emotion, he kept it on him being a victim, his loss of his mother, his trips for the USO, his slant of facts, the crowd just refusing to listen to Annie counter what he said.

The thing about Franken is, he is completely unethical and shameless. He knows very well that his tactics are unfair and untruthful, but he doesn't care.

Franken finds something silly and trivial -- was Lott "booed off the stage" at the Wellstone ceremony? -- and then strikes the "I demand an answer" pose. (A favorite tactic of Hillary, by the way.) The fact that the trick question is irrelevant (Lott was indeed booed at the ceremony, but "off the stage" is just rhetoric) is lost on the audience. Attempts to clarify the point are me by the antagonist with the accusation that "you're dodging the question" and the renewed demand: "Yes or no?"

When someone frequently interrupts (as Franken does), it is the task of the moderator to stop the debate and DEMAND an end to the interruptions.

Interrupting and hogging the spotlight are bulldozer tactics. If someone starts that stuff, amd the moderator refuses to do his job, the thing to do is wait until they're pause for breath and say:

"Are you finished? Are you going to interrupt me and start yammering again, or do I get to say something here? ...
"I have never been treated so rudely in my life. I accepted an invitation to a debate, and instead of a debate, I am just supposed to sit here while you lecture, and the minute I open my mouth, you interrupt and insult me. You never wanted a debate. You are a liar, and you can lecture by yourself if you want to, but I refuse to continue to participate in this two-bit dog-and-pony show."

And then you walk out.