Do Debates Matter? I Say No, But Let's Ask Harry Reid in a Week

[Yeggo]

So, the dust is settled from last night's Nevada Senate debate, and I haven't found a ton of people willing to say Harry Reid had a great night. The local and national media are treating it like a wipeout, and in a close race, everyone's in a big hurry to throw another shovelful of dirt on the Majority Leader.

But think for a second... do you really think debates are game changers anymore? We're still using a 50 year old Nixon/Kennedy debate as proof they do. We still have to go back to 1988 to come up with a really, truly, memorable debate moment, and that was by the landslide loser in a vice presidential debate. I say we test the hypothesis by keeping an eye on the Reid/Angle race over the next week or so. If the punditry is right, Angle should see a boost. If I'm right, things will stay right where they are until election day.

http://bit.ly/dvrRsp

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. Gore And Kerry Used Bush* As A Pinata And Look What Happened

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[BootinUp]

2. Here's a hypothesis

The more that the candidates are covered on tv and the public has a chance to see and hear them, the less a debate will matter. I imagine that since Angle has been hiding from the press according to most reports, that this debate would be a good one to possibly see some movement.

[Life Long Dem]

3. No need to wait a week.

Just ask Sen. John Kerry. He won all three debate's against Bush in 2004, and look where it got him.

[elocs]

4. I'd say debates do not generally matter. They are mostly preaching to the choir

and change few minds. Televise them, broadcast them...big deal because it's mostly the choirs who pay attention. Most everyone else, the ones who likely should be watching, can easily find something else to do as they snack on the ad sound bites.