In the lincoln-douglas debates, douglas tried to make lincoln appear to be

 He tried to make Lincoln appear as an abolitionist
slavery was a key issue in the election of that year, and as they debated in Illionois, Douglas sought to profess an image of Lincoln as an abolitionists. however, Lincoln held only to the idea that slavery should not be allowed to spread westward. His editing of the debates into one book led to his popularity and nomination by the republican party to be the presidential candidate.