[ColdWater]

How does that bear on his debating prowess? What does that prove against his arguments?

You said Keyes destroyed him. A destroyed man does not go on to win.

[roamer_1]

You said Keyes destroyed him. A destroyed man does not go on to win.

The destroyed man certainly can go in to win if in a state with a hopelessly liberal bias. Illinois is such a state. The debates had no effect upon the outcome, nor would one expect them to.