Unfortunately, you are right — as is he. Unfortunately, it is too complex a subject to be addressed in the middle of a political campaign. Now, however, he is stuck. So, he needs to keep repeating the short answer, “I’m just saying that I think the Founding Fathers had it right. Their way kept the Senate from being out of touch, spending money like drunken sailors, and raising taxes willy nilly.”
Actually, I'm not sure there is a "right" answer where Senators are concerned. With direct election vs. legislative appointment, you're pretty much just substituting one set of problems for another. I certainly don't think a change in the way they're sent to DC would have much effect on the tendency of the Senators to act as they do.
No, actually it’s a lousy idea. Were this the case, Scott Brown and a plethora of southern GOP senators would never have been elected. Reagan would likely not have had a senate majority nor would he have had any of his conservative nominees confirmed; Jesse Helms would never have been a senator. I’d go on but you get the point.