Presidential debates -- how much impact do they have?

Look at some of the elections of the past such as Kennedy/Nixon or Bush/Gore, one percentage point could decide the election. And so far, all the polls show this election very close.

 

Well, there are two more debates to go, and now all the pressure is on Romney. It's like a baseball player who hit 3 homers in his first game, now he is expected to do that every game.

Expectations have now changed. Romney is now expected to do great again, while nobody is expecting much from Obama after his dismal performance. If Obama can simply hang even with Romney in the next debate it will be considered a victory for Obama.

Romney did great the first debate, but you know what they say, he who laughs last, laughs best...

But I think Romney will come prepared and beat Obama again. :thumbs:

 

Romney best be prepared. I do not believe the first debate performance will happen again. As far as the election outcome, sometimes it does make a difference like 1960 and 1980, but in this case, I still believe in the end Obama will win a narrow victory.

 

The next debate will be very different.

And here's a video just for Crabby about Romney and Big Bird.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai-xmm558Ng

I love this video. :laugh:

 

See, I knew it. You hate Big Bird just as much as the rest of us. You thoroughly enjoyed seeing Romney strafe and bomb that big yellow canary. That fat bird needed to run, see how big his bottom is? No wonder he can't fly, what kind of example is he to our school children? It is obvious all he eats is potato chips and drinks soda. I'm gonna get in touch with Michelle Obama and let her know about this fat canary, maybe she will call out the National Guard to help Romney kill this threat to our kids. That bird is a disgrace to all our government stands for and wants to impose on the population, he's got to go!

 

I admit that I misjudged the importance of the recent debate. I was totally surprised by the number of viewers being reported. I was also surprised by the apparent impact it has had. I was never going to vote for Obama. He is in direct conflict with all that I hold dear. I had no real intention of voting for Romney either as I saw no significant difference....having come to see Romney as simply Obama-lite in policy. I admit to now giving serious consideration to voting for Romney based on what he showed in the debate.

 

It was surprising at how many watched the debate between Mitt Romney and President Obama. It was the second highest rated debate watched in our nations history. I suspect that happened due to many being unsure of Mitt Romney. People wanted to see how he answered questions - during these troubled economic times and now uncertain times in the middle east.

Politically that is a problem for the President. President Obama came across looking poorly, while Mitt Romney did very well by most accounts.

There is still lots of time till election. A good deal might change from now till then. Overall tend to agree with Jonathan Tobin's article, Mitt Romney shined at the right time.

"Debate Ratings Show Obama Picked the Wrong Night to Flop"

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2...gs-show-obama-picked-the-wrong-night-to-flop/

snippet:

 

I don't see that debates always play an important role. In this case however, Romney was so dominate in every respect and Obama seemed confused and unsure of his own answers, I think it may have a large impact on this election.

If this had been a round of boxing I would have score it a 10-8 round for Romney.

 

A man who knows how to score boxing! You are probably right 10-8, it might have even been 10-7. I think there were a couple of knockdowns in this round.

But there are two more rounds to go, and you never know how they will turn out.

 

Too much impact. They are nothing more than "beauty contests" which are front-loaded for the most liberal (defined as "the one most supported by Big Media and Hollywood") candidate to win.

 

Of course your not since Obama got his head handed to him.

 

I think it makes more of a difference than most thinking people believe. The voting public is stupid. They're fickle. They care more about style and personality than substance and ability. This is why Obama won in 2008. His ascention to the Presidency was based on his charisma; it certainly wasn't based on job experience or any other qualification. He simply could speak well.

If there are any doubts as to what I say, listen to the commentators the next time there's a debate. The comments and analysis will focus on the performance, and not on the substance.

 

You may well have a point there, brother.