I disagree. They can, and do, move the needle. Perhaps not enough to change much, but impressions count. I am a staunch Trump supporter, but I'm not happy this morning.
I watched the debate last night. Biden did better than I expected and I was really disappointed in Trump. He came off as a rude, interrupting, bully. From what I've seen, there is no discussion today about the facts that were presented, only that Trump's behavior was horrible. I think Chris Wallace was hardly unbiased and I was stunned to hear that Wallace was allowed to select the questions. Those questions should be fielded by BOTH candidates, so how does Trump's tax return fit in to a Biden response? It doesn't, yet he asked it. Trump's response was horrible, as he didn't answer the question other than to say he "paid millions". What he should have said was that, like every American, he tries to minimize his tax bill within the constraints of the Tax Code. He should have pointed out that Joe has had 47 years to affect the Tax Code, but has left it with loop holes so rich people could donate to Democrat candidates.
Knowing Trump's personality, he is not going to change his style of interrupting during the debate. HE should propose that each person is in their own room with a camera, monitor, and mic. When the other person is responding, the opponent's mic is turned off. In earlier debates I've watched, they took notes while the other person talked and then responded to those notes. Trump needs to learn to do that instead of interrupting. The media is portraying him as a bully. Not good.
“stunned to hear that Wallace was allowed to select the questions”
And the questions were really all Democrat talking points.
Obamacare? When has that come up in the summer of no love?
Riots by organized militant Leftists have dominated the news. Trump stuck to that even after Biden claimed Antifa is an “ideology” and used Chris Wray’s lies to back that up.
Wallace’s questions reflected his ideology which is totally down with the Rat party. It was a coordinated attack on the President.
Fox News conservative my butt.
You are correct that impressions count. Two days after the debate is over, nobody remembers what this guy or that guy said. They remember impressions.
Here is the impression that (IMO) they will remember. Wallace had to prop up Biden. People today are taking about Wallace. They are barely taking about Trump or Biden. They are talking about Wallace.