Republican U.S. Sen. John Thune is taking no position on a fellow senator's decision not to engage in any political debates for the Nov. 4 election.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson has decided not to debate his Republican challenger, Joel Dykstra of Canton.

Johnson cited his speech rehabilitation as the reason. The senator's speech and movement were affected by a brain hemorrhage in December 2006.

Thune says that although many South Dakotans like political debates, he says voters ultimately will pick the person they believe is most qualified.