OK, what kind of person would hinge their vote on the debate outcome?

[MrScorpio]

Who hasn't made up their minds already?

[reformist2]

1. Busy, overworked, slightly disillusioned people? (Let's not call them stupid.)

[MrScorpio]

2. I'm sorely tempted to nt

[malaise]

3. Someone working in the media

They want the ad money

[robinlynne]

4. interestingly enough therre was a show on pBS last night about republican women who are prochoice

and just dont know how they will vote. They are stuanchly republican, but feel they cant accept the "government invasive" way the repubs are acting.

Their reason is that they want "less government". quite interesting.

[lonestarnot]

5. So now they've all crapped a pant load. What to do about that?

[gkhouston]

9. I think the debates will work to the President's favor.

Think about it: do you know any Dems disillusioned enough to vote for Romney? I don't. But there are people who "always" vote Republican who aren't enthused about Romney/Ryan. If they're already on the fence, a good performance by the President or a poor one by Romney could convince them to vote Dem or stay at home this year.

[2ndAmForComputers]

6. I'll let Gene Wilder do the talking for me.

[VOX]

17. PERFECT!!!

"What's a dazzling urbanite like you doing in a rustic setting like this?"

[Flashmann]

7. Who hasn't made up their minds already?

Mostly people who are not clever enough to dress themselves.....

[robinlynne]

22. just not true. There are republicans who dont know what to do. conflicted.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

8. People who want to see what the candidates say for themselves

Not in soundbites and not with media spin from either side of the aisle.

[Daniel537]

13. We have YouTube for that

Plenty of statements from the candidates in their own words. Not to mention their own websites which list their views on every major issue. This isn't 1960. People who are looking for info on the candidates can do so whenever they want.

[hfojvt]

18. sometimes it is amazing how little a website will say

Because every candidate is for "good jobs" a "strong economy" and "common sense American values".

Furthermore, what if you goto Dave Spence's website (candidate for Governor in Missouri) and read his jobs plan. On the surface, it maybe sounds like a good plan.

Buit then what if you don't see a critique of said plan? Maybe because it only has 684 frigging views (and probably 30 of those views are mine)). (Here's the critique I wrote, just in case you are interested http://www.democraticunderground.com/1061299)

But what if Spence has an answer to said critique?

Well, a debate forces a candidate to articulate their positions, but then gives their opponent a chance to critique their positions, or defend their alternatives, and then a candidate can try to answer those critiques.

[NightWatcher]

10. here's a well produced piece on the "undecideds"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/23/undecided-voters-saturday-night-live-video_n_1907145.html

[gateley]

11. I watched a Romney/Kennedy debate last night and I was surprised at how

well Romney did. He had facts (skewed as they were), cogent rebuttals, and a confident presence.

He seemed to be better than he was in he snippets of this year's Republican debates that I saw.

It was interesting that so many of the issues they were tussling over are very the same ones we're debating today. You could have slapped a 2012 date on it.

I was thinking that Romney would crumble in the debates with Obama, but if he brings his senate debate game, it'll be a strong debate. Of course he's got WAY more baggage this time to deal with.

These are just objective observations/opinions as well as I could be objective since I loathe Romney and adored Teddy.

[arthritisR_US]

12. Those damn undecided types of the genre

SNL did a skit on...me thinks

[hfojvt]

14. there are perhaps three categories

First, those who are currently undecided.
Second, those who favor Obama, but might change their mind after watching the debate
Third, those who favor Romney, but might change their mind after watching the debate

Some of them might be non-voters as well. As a kid in 1976, I watched all of the debates, even the Vice Presidential debate between Dole and Mondale. I was only 14 and could not vote, but the debates were supposed to inform me on issues, and perhaps determine which party I would be with when I finally could vote, a mere four years later. In 1976, I was a supporter of Ford. I am not sure why. I think I saw him as "the President" whereas Carter was a usurper wanna-be.

In 1980, when I could vote, I also watched the debates. Sure, I was a strong Reagan supporter, but why not listen to the other side? To make an early pick and then close my mind, and my ears, to the other side, does not seem like a responsible way to make a decision. As a candidate, I would hope that voters would at least give my message (of peace) a chance. That's all I am saying.

In 1984, I again watched all the debates, and the conventions when I could. I was kinda blown away by Jesse Jackson's speech at the 1984 convention, even though I was a strong Republican. Then I watched the debates and Reagan fumbled and bumbled so much that I wondered why I had ever supported him.

So by 1988, I was a registered Democrat, voting for Jesse Jackson in the Wisconsin primary.

Would you rather I not have watched debates? Or the convention of the other party?

Is there something wrong with being willing to listen to the other side?

Is it better to make up your mind early and then just go "la la la, I can't hear you" when anybody tries to change your mind?

[oberliner]

15. More than you can possibly imagine

In fact, I think some only start paying attention now - if that.

Probably won't even watch the debate - but rather whatever clips from the debate make "the news" and are talked about around the proverbial water cooler.

[quaker bill]

16. It depends

Debates are generally not "won", but occasionally are lost. They are a 90 minute gaffe opportunity. If no one gaffes, they are generally viewed as a "tie" with maybe a slight edge to the one who "looked more Presidential". A large prime-time gaffe or a zinger that is very good and that is well placed, will get air time and potentially move votes. Kind of like the 47% comment, but usually not as unfortunate because they know it is being recorded.

[Island Blue]

19. If someone hasn't made up their mind by now,

I seriously doubt that they would care about the democratic process enough to watch the debates.

[MysticLynx]

20. Disappointed people

grabbing at straws. I personally know someone who had their home stolen in this whole mortgage meltdown- seriously they paid their mortgage every month on time- the bank had sold the mortgage without telling them, keep their payments, and never informed them the payments were going to the wrong place- the new mortgage company foreclosed on them, in court the trial was a sham judge did not even look at the evidence they had to prove they had paid. Then the state 'settles' with the thieves, MAYBE they will get a couple of hundred dollars back- they are fed-up, they feel this admin has failed them and they are looking and hoping for something, some sort of relief,hope anything, if Romney can 'sell' himself to folks like this they will vote for him. Don't blame people for wanting better especially when they have been at the receiving end of the worst. What else is left to them to do they have run out of options and avenues and come up with nothing but dead ends. Granted not Obama's fault - the president does not make the laws Congress does- but Obama will suffer for their errors with these voters just as the congress will - there is more to the Congress's historically low approval than just 'obstruction' people are beginning to realize that the laws are against them not for them and they want someone to do something NOW before they end up having to live in the streets and they don't see Obama doing much that is helping them either.

[Hutzpa]

21. LIV's

nt