Below are the dates for numerous Senate debates on NBC’s Meet the Press. Tune in, y’all!

via First Read:

September 3:
Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (R) and Bob Casey (D)

September 13:
Virginia Sen. George Allen (R) vs. Jim Webb (D)

October 1:
Ohio Sen. Mike DeWine (R) vs. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D)

October 8:
Missouri Sen. Jim Talent (R) vs. Claire McCaskill (D)

October 15:
Minnesota candidates Amy Klobuchar (D) and Mark Kennedy (R)

October 29:
Maryland Senate nominees (still TBD)

Yesterday, DoubleSpeak wrote about the battle heating up in Missouri over stem-cell research and a ballot measure that would protect the exploration of this new science.

Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO) has flip-flopped on stem-cell research and his chances of being re-elected have been hindered because of his ‘out of the mainstream’ position. He is pandering and he’ll pay the price on Election Day.

National Public Radio’s Greg Allen profiles this sensitive debate and talks about the political consequences for a senator who just doesn’t get it. Have a listen.

Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO), who is locked in a tight re-election battle in 2006 against State Auditor Claire McCaskill, has just announced his opposition to a ballot measure that protects early stem-cell research in Missouri. This ballot is set to be voted on in November.

Talent’s stand was announced the same day that supporters of early stem-cell research turned in 288,991 signatures to place the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot. That’s nearly twice as many as were required.

In a three-sentence statement issued late Monday afternoon, Talent said, “I personally cannot support the initiative because I’ve always been opposed to human cloning and this measure would make cloning human life at the earliest stage a constitutional right.”

This is a losing issue for Sen. Talent. Missouri voters are confused on his stance on stem cell research and overwhelmingly, Americans are seeking leadership on this issue. This decision will hurt the incumbent in the polls and might even cost him the election. McCaskill is offering the leadership that Missourians and Americans are seeking.

On Monday, a spokeswoman for McCaskill contended that many Missourians had hoped that Talent would support the stem-cell initiative after dropping his backing of Brownback’s bill.

“He was against it before he was for it and now he’s against it again,” McCaskill spokeswoman Adrianne Marsh said. “Missourians are confused. Obviously, Senator Talent is confused himself because the initiative strictly prohibits human cloning.

“Senator Talent will probably change his mind again after his next poll.”