It was the issue of slavery that Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A Douglas disagreed about during their political debates. Stephen A Douglas supported slavery while Abraham Lincoln opposed it.
slavery
Abraham Lincoln's debates with Stephen Douglas helped bring him into the national spotlight.
Stephen A. Douglas
Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, hence Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Stephen Douglas won against Abraham Lincoln when running for US Senate
Abraham Lincoln, John C. Breckinridge, John Bell and Stephen A. Douglas.
In correspondence to Stephen A. Douglas' friends, he indicated that Abraham Lincoln was not a radical or fanatical Republican. Douglas had admiration for Lincoln. In public, however, politics prevailed. Douglas had to paint Lincoln as an abolitionist and a divisive political figure.
Stephen Douglas defeated Abraham Lincoln in the 1858 Illinois Senate election.
Stephen Douglas beat Abraham Lincoln in the Senate race.
His debate partner was Senator Stephen Douglas from Illinois. Douglas was a celebrated debater and speaker.
In 1858, Abraham Lincoln sought the senate seat in Illinois that was held by nationally known Stephen A. Douglas. The major issue in the debates they had during the campaign centered around slavery. Douglas attempted to portray Lincoln as a radical and Lincoln tried to make Douglas seem a pro-slavery senator. Douglas easily won the election, but it gave Lincoln national attention.