>> TANE: WE'RE ENTERING THE THICK OF ELECTION SEASON.

THERE ARE RACES UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT, FROM SCHOOL BOARDS TO STATE LEGISLATURE TO CONSTITUTIONAL AND FEDERAL OFFICES.

YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR ENDLESS CAMPAIGN AS, SPEECHES, PLEAS FOR DONATIONS.

IT'S ALWAYS A FUNDRAISING DEADLINE.

BUT THERE'S ONE THING YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO HEAR FROM EVERY CANDIDATE BEFORE YOU GIVE THEM ANYTHING.

EVERY CANDIDATE IN EVERY RACE OUGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A REAL, LIVE, FORUM OR DEBATE.

THEY OUGHT TO GET ON STAGE WITH THEIR OPPONENT AND ANSWER SUBSTANTIVE QUESTIONS POSED BY A TENACIOUS MODERATOR.

VOTERS, DO NOT SETTLE FOR SOME TOOTHLESS EXERCISE IN POLITICAL GAS-BAGGERY, WHERE A POLITE BUT FECKLESS VOLUNTEER FROM A HISTORIC, WELL-MEANING, BUT RULE-OBSESSED LEAGUE ASKS EACH CANDIDATE "HOW WILL YOU MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER?"

GIVES EACH PERSON ON STAGE TWO MINUTES TO SAY WHATEVER THE HECK THEY WANT, INCLUDING NOT EVEN ANSWERING THE QUESTION, AND THEN MOVES TO THE NEXT CANDIDATE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT DEBATES WITH REAL MODERATORS, NOT JUST TIMEKEEPERS.

MODERATORS SHOULD LEAD DYNAMIC OPEN-ENDED DEBATES, RESEARCH WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID BEFORE, PUSH FOR SPECIFICS, AND NOT BE AFRAID TO HAVE CANDIDATES CLASH, EXPOSING HOW THEY'D ACTUALLY BE DIFFERENT IN OFFICE.

YOU SHOULD EXPECT ALL CANDIDATES TO GO THROUGH A GRILLING LIKE THAT BEFORE THEY WIN OFFICE.

'CAUSE GUESS WHAT.

IF YOU DO GET ELECTED, THERE ISN'T A SCRIPT.

THE ISSUES FACING YOU AREN'T GOING TO SUBMIT THEMSELVES AHEAD OF TIME FOR YOU TO FORMULATE A CONCISE 30-SECOND ANSWER THAT YOU CAN THEN FOCUS GROUP AND POLL TEST BEFORE EVER SAYING IT OUT LOUD.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO TOUGH STUFF, DEAL WITH UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES, AND WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO REALLY DON'T AGREE WITH YOU ON A LOT OF THINGS.

THAT'S GOVERNANCE.

IF YOU WOULDN'T HIRE SOMEONE TO WORK FOR YOU OR BABYSIT YOUR KIDS WITHOUT HAVING A REAL CONVERSATION WITH THEM FIRST, WHY WOULD YOU ELECT SOMEONE TO RUN OUR STATE OR OUR COUNTRY WITHOUT THEM TALKING TO YOU FIRST?

SO, VOTERS, EVEN IF YOU'RE ALREADY DEEPLY COMMITTED TO A PARTICULAR SIDE IN A RACE, ASK YOUR CANDIDATES TO GET UP AND FACE THEIR OPPONENT AND THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.

IF THEY'RE SO RIGHT, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THAT TO A BROADER AUDIENCE.

AND IF THEY'RE NOT RIGHT OR THERE ARE FLAWS IN THEIR ARGUMENT, WHICH THERE USUALLY ARE WITH POLITICIANS, IT'S BETTER FOR US TO ALL SEE THAT NOW.

DEBATE IS GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ALL AGREE ON.

SO LET'S SEE IT IN EVERY RACE IN MINNESOTA THIS FALL.