Political debates have been a central feature of campaigns for centuries, giving spectators clearer insight into the character and policies of individuals running for office. As political campaigns have become longer and more polarized, however, some question whether debates matter at all.
The answer is a resounding yes, but not because of the traditional formats for political debates and their televised broadcasts. Instead, the value of political debates lies in their ability to educate voters in a way that other mediums cannot. Longer than a tweet and more substantive than an advertisement, political debates offer voters a direct experience with candidates that is different from paid media or individual voter engagement experiences like door-to-door canvassing.
By allowing candidates to present their ideas directly to voters, political debates provide a space for them to contrast their positions with those of their opponents and amplify the strength and quality of their arguments. They also give voters an opportunity to see how candidates respond to criticisms and how they interact with each other.
But the benefits of debates are even more important in our current climate of heightened partisanship and distrust. Debates allow voters to assess the quality of their opponents’ leadership, partisanship and ability to address key national issues without having to rely on filtered news coverage or the often biased and uncritical statements made by candidates in campaign ads.