True/False - In the first debate, Lincoln came out "swinging" and landed a "direct punch" against Douglas.

True.

This is because, Lincoln was able to profer solution for the slavery issue by declaring that, a house divided against itself would not stand (That is, he believed that the US government cannot endure permanently, half slave and half free country). This is in contrast to Douglas who wanted each states to determine what the want regarding to slavery.

Though Lincoln losted the senatorial election, his popularity due to his debates with Douglas soured him higer leading to him to contesting and winning the presidential election two years later.