Over the years, presidential debates have become a fixture in the democratic process of electing our leaders. We attach a great deal of importance to the debates as a rule, since we believe that debates offer a truer picture of the candidates than prepared speeches and TV advertisements.
And of course, we are encouraged by the media to place a great deal of importance on the debates. At least on one level, the debates are important -- in recent campaigns, over 50 million Americans have watched the debates. I must say that I too am fascinated by the debates, if only to see how the candidates present themselves.
After each debate, we want to discuss "who won the debate." On more than one occasion, I've had a newspaper reporter call me to ask for my reaction, and in 2000, I participated in a focus group conducted by the Oakland Press, which brought about a dozen of local citizens together to watch the debates and then respond to questions asked by a Press reporter.
But I have always wondered about how we even determine which candidate has "won" the debate. I have some of my own ideas about this, but I am interested in hearing from someone who can tell us what criteria they use that helps them decide who won -- or is "winning" that important to you? On Wednesday before the first presidential debate, I'll provide some criteria that I think some voters might be using, but first I'd like to hear from you about how you decide who won the debate.
John Klemanski
And of course, we are encouraged by the media to place a great deal of importance on the debates. At least on one level, the debates are important -- in recent campaigns, over 50 million Americans have watched the debates. I must say that I too am fascinated by the debates, if only to see how the candidates present themselves.
After each debate, we want to discuss "who won the debate." On more than one occasion, I've had a newspaper reporter call me to ask for my reaction, and in 2000, I participated in a focus group conducted by the Oakland Press, which brought about a dozen of local citizens together to watch the debates and then respond to questions asked by a Press reporter.
But I have always wondered about how we even determine which candidate has "won" the debate. I have some of my own ideas about this, but I am interested in hearing from someone who can tell us what criteria they use that helps them decide who won -- or is "winning" that important to you? On Wednesday before the first presidential debate, I'll provide some criteria that I think some voters might be using, but first I'd like to hear from you about how you decide who won the debate.
John Klemanski
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