I know that there is a lot going on in the world these day. Aside from markets around the world plummeting like bricks, there are World Cup Qualifiers (England’s winning 3-1 to though concerned), the Phillies are playing the Dodgers for a place in the World Series (go Phils!), and I’m sure there is a re-run of CSI that could draw you in. Our friends over at FP Passport are recommending that all of these might be a better use of your time.
So why have debates at all? What would we lose without them? If you’ve been paying attention to the race at all for the last three months, you’re not going to hear anything new. If you’re a low-information voter who’s legitimately curious about how a candidate plans to tackle the economic crisis, I guarantee you won’t learn anything much from the debates that can’t be found in their stump speeches or campaign material.
It is easy to see this event as a news generator that give media types–me included–something to talk about for another day. But that shouldn’t diminish its value.
For one thing, most voters have not been able to make it out to see the candidates stump. Lacking this first hand experience, any chance to see the two duel–be it using talking points or not–is worthwhile. I would wager that the few people who would scour speeches to learn about the candidates respective positions are in the minority and are political die-hards anyway. Voters want things presented to them, and this is one of the few times when they have a nice side-by-side comparison.
Secondly, the nervousness in the U.S.–and around the world, for that matter–is palpable. The first debates have focuses on foreign policy, as well as economic policy; but the situation is so fluid, and things are very different now. Both camps have presented brand-spanking new economic plans in the past few days, and this is the perfect time to explain them to the voters. The next president will be the one managing the fallout from this financial crisis, and giving these candidates a chance to enumerate their policies could serve to calm things–in a way that the lame duck George W. Bush has not been able to. People want to know what McCain and Obama what and how they will fix things–and they want to hear it from the horse’s mouth, if you will.
Though few voters are explicitely undecided at this point–about 3% according to the latest Rassmussen poll–the political situation is also incredibly dynamic right now. As always happens, both candidates enjoyed a boost in their polling numbers following their conventions, but Messr McCain was in the lead by nearly every measure before the economic picture began to darken. Since, voters have flocked to the Democratic candidate in search of comfort. Now down in the polls, the Arizona senator need to show that he is a cool head who has a plan to right the ship. This is the last time he will be able to make that pitch to a multimillion person audience himself, rather than through the 24-hour news channels. Voters are worried, and if he does a better job than his opponent tonight at reassuring them, it could be the start of yet another comeback.
If that’s not compelling enough for you, it at least gives me something to write about!
Mark C. Partridge, Contributing Editor
