Electoral systems- presidential debates

Question 1

Features of presidential debates?

Answer 1

Style is often more important than substance
-Verbal Gaffes can be costly
-Good sound bites are helpful
-Debates are potentially more difficult for incumbents than for challenges

Question 2

Style is often more important than substance- example?

Answer 2

In the first Gore v Bush debate in 2000 gore was overly made up
-Interrupted bush frequently, making audible scoffs and eye rolls causing a ridiculing on SNL
-After 2nd town hall debate, Gore strode across the stage to stand right next to Bush whilst speaking
-Or Trumps ‘such a nasty woman’

Question 3

Good sound bites are helpful, explain this?

Answer 3

-Many voters don’t watch the full debate but they do see sound bites via tv on the breakfast show the next morning
-In 1996, senator Dole, president clinton asked what he thought of bob’s age, he responded i dont think senator Dole’s is too old to the president its the age of his idea that i question’
-John McCain, Obama said ‘McCain is like G Bush’ he responded ‘If you wanted to run against G Bush you should have run 4 years ago

Question 4

Debates are potentially more difficult for incumbents than for challenges, explain this?

Answer 4

We saw that this was a problem for Obama in 2012
Debate format itself is a greater leveller that the challenger opposes on the same platform as the president of the us and has equal air time

Question 5

Verbal Gaffes can be costly, explain this?

Answer 5

-In 1976 Ford mistake Poland was not under control of the Soviet Union which was an error
-Carter saying his 9 year old daughter was opposing the usage of nuclear weapons