… We love the illusion that the skills on display in debates somehow map onto the requirements of the presidency; and that we render political verdicts based on what appears to be intellectual trial by combat.
Don’t bet on it.
In reality, debates have probably never decided a presidential election. Michael Dukakis, Al Gore, John Kerry and Hillary Clinton all “won” their debates, but none won the White House. That does not mean debates have no effect — effects are just usually small and not decisive. CONT.
Mark Mellman (Mellman Group), The Hill