Lessons learned from the presidential debates

Precisely how much the four televised debates really influenced the 2012 presidential election remains to be seen on Nov. 6; rhetorical and presentational advantage often can prove temporary in the face of the actual issues important to all Americans reasserting themselves in the voters' heads. But, given the recent movements in the polls, it seems reasonable to assert that the four debates, taken together, caused a significant shift in the race and that their huge potential influence was missed or minimized by most of the commentators anticipating them.

Chris Jones

October 26, 2012