Teevee political debates: do you think they mean anything to anyone besides us political junkies?

[Stinky The Clown]

I see them blogged and parsed online. I hear 'water cooler' talk about them every now and again ..... but do they really matter? Can they turn an election?

I think some years ago, they did and they could.

Today (just for the Dems, this is number 19!!) maybe not so much. I think they've more or less become white noise.

What do you think?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I tend to doubt it.

Seems like most people aren't paying much attention. I think if there hadn't been so many of them they might be more significant, but lately it's more like Monday Night Football -- just another game. The Nixon-Kennedy debate was very significant because it was the only one and it was the first that was televised (and it showed Nixon as looking weird and weaselly). But they're a dime a dozen now, and I don't even hear much water cooler talk any more. It's just us politics junkies and the cable talking heads who are watching, I think.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. Unless something dramatic happens, no.

Remember, Kerry wiped the floor with Bush in the debates in 2004 and still couldn't really distance himself. Every poll I saw post-debate said Kerry won and it wasn't even close (60-30 or the like).

Debates only matter if something dramatic happens -- but generally they're status quo.

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. Hopefully it will be the last one until the next one

with McCain.

I have neighbors coming over to watch it tonight, who
really haven't followed the earlier ones but are watching them now.

[spanone]

4. most folks 'hear' who won or lost....