How influential do you believe the debates are?

Eagle-Keeper · 2020-03-08T23:40:00.627Z

When Trump won the Republican nomination I had a hard time understanding why as I personally felt that his debate performance was mediocre. Regarding the current Democrat primary can anyone really say that Biden’s debate performance was better than the rest of the candidates?

This has persuaded me to conclude that more often than not the debates in the end are not that important to most voters. Am I wrong?

Impenitent · 2020-03-09T00:13:00.415Z

the debates beat the billionaire

that’s pretty influential

TheDoctorIsIn · 2020-03-09T00:16:52.760Z

Debates are a way for candidates with that particular skill to show off, and those who don’t to flounder.

I think their relevance is greatly overstated. At this point, it’s just continuous free airtime for whichever candidate can steal focus. It’s a stage for the spectacle, playing to their individual audiences.

Eagle-Keeper · 2020-03-09T01:00:38.921Z

Impenitent:

the debates beat the billionaire

that’s pretty influential

I definitely acknowledge that one cannot be a complete flop. But would you acknowledge that Biden did not in any way outshine all the other Dem candidates?

Eagle-Keeper · 2020-03-09T01:02:39.904Z

TheDoctorIsIn:

I think their relevance is greatly overstated.

I agree with that.

Smyrna · 2020-03-09T07:14:12.620Z

The debates are very influential. When they come on, i change the channel…immediately.

westaussie · 2020-03-09T07:18:16.635Z

Personally I think it is a misnomer to call them debates particularly when there is a plethora of candidates. In my opinion what they potentially can do is cause the downfall of a candidate who performs badly (e.g. Bloomberg) but they have very little real impact positively on a candidate who performs well.

Camp · 2020-03-09T12:32:57.014Z

I thought Warren did better than Biden and she isn’t going to be the lead name on the ticket.

The debates DID sink Bloomburg. This I agree with…otherwise mostly a wash.

Weedhopper · 2020-03-09T15:39:11.531Z

I saw a bunch of Russian collusion liars with zero credibility debating.

DougBH · 2020-03-09T15:50:00.448Z

Ask Bloomberg how important the debates are.

Oryx · 2020-03-09T15:51:25.657Z

DougBH:

Ask Bloomberg how important the debates are.

Is that why you think Bloomberg dropped out? The debates?

DougBH · 2020-03-09T15:52:57.390Z

Oryx:

DougBH:

Ask Bloomberg how important the debates are.

Is that why you think Bloomberg dropped out? The debates?

I think that’s why he had to drop out. His ads online created one image, his debate performance created another.

Oryx · 2020-03-09T15:54:06.850Z

DougBH:

I think that’s why he had to drop out. His ads online created one image, his debate performance created another.

He dropped out because Democrats rejected him buying the nomination. No one chooses a president based on their debate skills.

DougBH · 2020-03-09T16:01:52.456Z

How well did you think Bloomberg did in the debates? Was his quick demise politically unrelated to that?

Oryx · 2020-03-09T16:15:13.634Z

DougBH:

How well did you think Bloomberg did in the debates? Was his quick demise politically unrelated to that?

I didn’t watch them, but I know he did very poorly. Still, I don’t think it had much to do with his demise. He’s a recent former Republican, an authoritarian, and was trying to buy the nomination. That’s what Democrats rejected, not his debate skills.