Do debates really matter?

[octothorpe]

Have you or anyone you've known changed their vote based on a presidential debate? I can see how they can be of use for primaries when a party is narrowing down it's candidates. Let's say Mitt is the person who runs against Obama, is there anything either Romney or Obama could say that would get you to vote against Obama and for Mitt ( I'm assuming most others here will be voting for Obama)? I'm pretty sure there isn't anything Romney could say that will get me to vote for him.. Perhaps I'm missing the overall goals of such debates?

[Jennicut]

1. For an undecided casual voter, it might change your mind.

It is not really for people who are already committed to a candidate.

[octothorpe]

8. I wonder how many of those people exist

Like I consider myself pretty open minded and I'll listen to anyone's views and consider them, but I find the republican party has more than a few "key" beliefs that seem so far out there, that I couldn't support them even if they managed to convince me their correctness on everything else.

I doubt anyone here on DU would fit into the category you mentioned though, aye?

[AtomicKitten]

2. Debates definitely have an impact particularly on undecided voters.

It's an exercise in thinking on one's feet.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. Ask Rick Parry

[Little Star]

4. +1 Good point!

[octothorpe]

5. Yeah, I get it for the primaries

[DefenseLawyer]

13. I can give you three reasons why they matter... n/t

[jberryhill]

6. Yes, but for the wrong reasons

It's like watching NASCAR for the crashes.

Ever since Reagan said, "There you go again..." to President Carter, campaigns have been looking for the knockout zinger of some kind.

Lloyd Bensen's "I knew Jack Kennedy..." speech was another example, as was Palin's miserably flat, "Say it ain't so, Joe..." for which she awkwardly had to first ask permission to call him Joe, and which was skewered in the SNL sendup of that debate.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

12. +1, unfortunately its about soundbites, and bumper stickers. Not concrete policy discussion. n/t

[hfojvt]

7. Yes, I have.

I was a Reagan supporter from about 1978 (when I was 16) and his performance in the debates in 1984 made me question that. Also, the primary debates in 2008 were one significant way to get to know the candidates who previously had been unknown. It was from a debate that I decided that I don't like Richardson, and my preference for Obama over Hillary was greatly strengthened by this exchnage.

[octothorpe]

9. Were you pretty politically aware back then?

It seems these days, one would have to be pretty oblivious to their surroundings to not have a good idea about the candidates stances. That seems like it would be difficult these days with all the sources of information constantly bombarding us even if we're not actively looking for it. Where as back in the day, if you didn't watch the news or read the newspapers, where else would get the information?

[hfojvt]

10. as aware as a kid could be

I even watched the debates in 1976 and also turned on McGovern in 1972 when I saw him on TV saying that the space program was a waste of money.

As for being bombarded, I am not sure how true that is. If I quit the internet or just quit DU and the Daily Howler, I wonder what information I would get from the M$M? I don't have cable so all I could watch are the big 4 and PBS. Well, there are magazines and books too. I get three progressive magazines. I cannot remember reading as a kid except for National Geographic and Reader's Digest. Reagan had this little two minute show on the radio that I used to listen to as well.

[gopiscrap]

11. What I've noticed is that

they don't matter til the MSM decides who won and lost

[RZM]

14. They absolutely matter

Many Republican voters aren't exactly moved by any of the candidates. And if you're talking Paul, Romney, Gingrich, and Santorum, can you really blame them? The debates are an important chance they have to form opinions without having to leave the house and go to a rally.

Gingrich probably padded his victory in S. Carolina by several points when he dissed the MSM in the debate there. S. Carolina Republicans hate the MSM only slightly less than DU does

And as another poster pointed out, there's Rick Perry too. While Perry probably had no shot to begin with, he would have done better had he not made a complete ass of himself during the debates.