Who puts on debates? Hmmmmm?
The Media, that’s who.
It used to be the League of Women voters or some such organization, way back when.
It isn’t the candidates themselves.
Think about it.
Why do candidates show up? It’s mostly defensive. Each one is afraid to let the opponents who DO show up get that air time while missing it themselves, and is afraid of being negatively portrayed for not participating, or just negatively portrayed by the participants and not be there to respond.
So many other factors are at play that it isn’t possible to tell how much debates have to do with polling swings or actual vote swings.
Huckabee used the debates to showcase himself as a gabby, witty sort who can connect to people through the media.
As a Baptist preacher, if he COULDN’T do that, he would be the first one I’ve known who couldn’t. That’s a Baptist preacher’s stock and trade.
I’m not electing a Baptist preacher when I vote, though... (I know he was AR Gov...my point is about something else, so don’t bother going there).
I was responding to:
“Even in the debates, the candidates are preaching to their respective choirs, because the audience for those debates are usually people who are supporting one candidate or the other.”
Which is it? The debates have an effect or don’t they?
An ability to communicate is good? bad?
Why is Reagan called the “Great Communicator”? If he hadn’t been, would he have been the same President we know and love today?
No one is asking you to vote for “Pastor in Chief” so you are responding to the question that wasn’t asked.