Prize fights and Olympic contests have judges, but debates between candidates for public office in the U.S. are ultimately judged by the voters. In the aftermath of presidential debates, there is intense interest in gauging “who won.” How can we know the answer to that question? CONT. Scott Keeter, Pew Read more »
Will This Deja Vu Be Different?
Over the last year we’ve witnessed a familiar pattern: Trump does or says something controversial/contentious/reprehensible (think: attacks on Judge Curiel and the Khan family), his poll numbers plummet and talk ensues about a Hillary Clinton “landslide” and a down ballot wipe out. … Then, like clockwork, the race stabilizes. … […] Read more »
Viewers Say Clinton Wins Second Debate
Following her solid victory in the first presidential debate two weeks ago, Democrat Hillary Clinton performed well in the second debate Sunday night, with 53% of those tuning in saying she did the better job, compared with 35% naming Republican Donald Trump. CONT. Lydia Saad, Gallup Read more »
A presidential candidate can’t threaten to imprison his opponent if he wants to live in a democracy
… Democracy is a process. Elections are held; winners take office; and policies are implemented. Crucially, it is expected that the “losers” from this process — those whose policies are not implemented — will not turn to extra-systemic (read: violent revolutionary) means to overturn those policies. Why? Because they can […] Read more »
Debate Was Like Trench Warfare Which Benefits Clinton
Lincoln-Douglas this was not. In fact, the debate Sunday night between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump was ugly, angry and soul-crushing. It was less a forum for undecided voters than a grudge match between two people who really, really don’t like each other. At the end of the day, however, […] Read more »
The Second Debate Probably Didn’t Help Trump, And He Needed Help
The second presidential debate on Sunday night was a strange one, with Donald Trump appearing to be on the brink of a meltdown in the first 20 to 30 minutes and then steadying himself the rest of the way. But here’s the bottom line: Based on post-debate polls, Hillary Clinton […] Read more »