10.1177/0002764205279721 ARTICLE American Behavioral Scientist Airne, Benoit / 2004 Illinois Senate Debates 2004 Illinois U.S. Senate Debates Keyes Versus Obama David Airne William L. Benoit University of Missouri This study content analyzed the 2004 Illinois U.S. Senate debates between Alan Keyes and Barak Obama. As is the case in presidential debates, acclaims (positive statements) were more common than attacks, which in turn were employed more frequently than defenses. Also consistent with presidential debates, these candidates discussed policy more than character. Both general goals and ideals were employed more often to acclaim than to attack. When they discussed policy, the candidates discussed past deeds and gen- eral goals more frequently than future plans. Keyes’s and Obama’s character comments discussed personal qualities more than leadership ability or ideals. Keywords: Illinois Senate debates; functional theory; Obama; Keyes M uch research has investigated both the nature (e.g., Benoit, Blaney, & Pier, 1998; Benoit & Brazeal, 2002; Benoit & Harthcock, 1999; Benoit, McHale, Hansen, Pier, & McGuire, 2003; Benoit & Wells, 1996; Bishop, Meadow, & Jackson- Beeck, 1978; Bitzer & Rueter, 1980; Carlin & McKinney, 1994; Coleman, 2000; Friedenberg, 1994, 1997; Hellweg, Pfau, & Brydon, 1992; Hinck, 1993; Jamieson & Birdsell, 1988; Kraus, 1962, 1979, 2000; Lanoue & Schrott, 1991; Schroeder, 2000) and effects of presidential debates (see, e.g., Benoit & Hansen, 2004; Benoit, Hansen, & Verser, 2003; McKinney & Carlin, 2004; Racine Group, 2002). Several studies have investigated presidential primary debates as well (e.g., Benoit, McKinney, & Stephenson, 2002; Benoit, Pier, et al., 2002; Best & Hubbard, 1999; Pfau, 1988). However, debates for other offices have not received as much scholarly attention (e.g., Bystrom, Roper, Gobetz, Massey, & Beall, 1991; Lichtenstein, 1982; Ornstein, 1987; Pfau, 1983). It is unfortunate that debates for other elected offices have been so neglected. The most famous nonpresidential debates occurred in 1858 and featured Abraham Lincoln and William Douglas, who were contesting a U.S. Senate seat from Illinois (see, e.g., Jaffa, 1999, or Zarefsky, 1993; these same candidates would face off 2 years later in a presidential campaign that did not include debates). Another famous set of early debates was a series of five encounters in 1946 between Richard Nixon and Jerry 343 American Behavioral Scientist Volume 49 Number 2 October 2005 343-352 © 2005 Sage Publications 10.1177/0002764205279721 http://abs.sagepub.com hosted at http://online.sagepub.com