Do debates matter anymore?

[BluenFLA]

Seriously, TFG refused to do any debates during the nomination process and won, Harris wiped the floor with him during their only debate and he still won, same with Clinton.

A poor debate by Biden had him hounded out of the race, but if he never had a debate would he have dropped out? Keep in mind Biden didn't do well in the debates for the nomination in 2020 and he still wound up with the nomination.

Nixon never debated his opponents, neither did Johnson. So what is the point of having them anymore?

[Ptah]

1. Nixon debated John Kennedy.

[Elessar Zappa]

2. I don't think they make a huge difference generally.

It did with Biden because the issue blew up in the media.

[OLDMDDEM]

3. Nixon and Kennedy were on live TV with the first televised debate.

[BluenFLA]

8. My bad, forgot to mention the first televised debate. I meant the second time Nixon ran for president in 68 and later 72

[Ocelot II]

4. Probably not any more.

I'm not sure they ever did all that much. The Nixon vs. Kennedy debate was the first televised one, and it might have hurt Nixon among those who watched it because he looked sweaty and sneaky. But those who listened on the radio thought Nixon won.

[Xavier Breath]

5. Recent evidence would suggest that they do not.

They're just another tradition from a bygone era when civility and some sense of civic duty were prerequisites for running for office, and candidates needed to differentiate between themselves and their opponent for the American people. Those old debates and battles seem so quaint now.

[unblock]

6. At this stage, even the routine, daily debates/arguments are pointless

They only show who can out-bully the other person and cram in the most talking points.

Debates are like trench warfare after tanks became big. Obsolete at best, counter-productive at worst.

We need to stop making the Nazis seem legitimate by standing next to them, as if their heinous views merit equal consideration.

[Mike Nelson]

7. Debates matter for...

... Democrats, it seems. Barak, Hillary, Joe, and Kamala were superior candidates. I know there are those who are overly passionate about them, for sure, but there is no fanatical equivalent to The Donald's diehard base. The don't seem to respond to his antics in a negative way. We saw a relatively "bad" debate from Obama, and he had to improve. We saw one from Biden, and it helped him withdraw. What could Crooked Donald do that would shake his rabid fans? Perform a live sex act? His fans would cheer or say it was faked. Debates matter for one party, it seems.

[dsc]

9. Actually they have hurt candidates of both parties

Ford got hurt badly in his debate with Carter, Carter got hurt in his with Reagan, Reagan had a bad one against Mondale but a good one after so he was OK, Bush 1 got hurt in a debate with Reagan in 80, then helped in 88 with Dukakis, then hurt with Clinton in 92, they seemed to have mattered less for Bush 2 and Obama.