So what is the reason for any candidate’s movement in the polls. If the debates had no affect, then why do people’s minds change?
If there is no affect, then why have a debate in the first place?
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).