Republican Sen. Jim Talent and his likely Democratic opponent, Missouri State Auditor Claire McCaskill, have agreed to a nationally televised debate Oct. 8 on NBC's "Meet the Press."

The debate on the Sunday morning program will take place just a month before the November election, in which Democrats have targeted Talent as vulnerable. Polls show a tight race.

It is the first debate the candidates have scheduled.

Talent and McCaskill both face token opposition Tuesday in Missouri's primary elections.