By the People: Election 2004 . Savvy Voter

"Calm and order can be just as
dangerous to democracy as uneasiness and disorder."
Hildegard Hamm-Brücher

Interpret a Debate

Learn what it takes to interpret a debate and be an informed viewer.

Debates use a variety of formats. Primary debates and local debates are traditionally more freewheeling, incorporating a wider range of formats and featuring multiple candidates. Since 1992, the general election presidential debates have also featured multiple formats including a town hall meeting with citizen questioners.

Most debates impose time limits on answers to ensure that all candidates have equal opportunity to respond. Topics may focus on a wide range of issues or may be on a particular theme such as education or the economy. General election presidential debates usually divide the time between foreign and domestic topics.

image of 1976 Presidential Debate - Image Courtesy of the Gerald Ford Presidential Library

The structure of the questioning in a debate rarely varies much. The debate opens either with a moderator introducing each candidate before beginning to question them or with the candidates making opening statements. In most debates, candidates also have closing statements.

Questions may be posed to candidates from a variety of sources. In primary and local debates, experts on the topic debated may serve as panelists. Representatives from the media are often used on the national level, either as lone questioners or with a panel of other media professionals. Many debates, especially at the local level, allow for questions from the audience at some point in the debate. The Richmond town hall meeting in 1992 was the first general election presidential debate to involve citizen questioners. Recent innovations include questions from remote sources or questions sent to a moderator via the Internet.

How to get the most out of a debate
Focus your attention on a few key points. Know what it is you want in an office holder, then watch and listen to see which candidate best fits your ideal. The following suggestions will help you focus:

Prepare ahead. Try to follow the campaign at least a few weeks before the first debate.
Watch more than one debate. No debate can cover every issue; try to watch multiple debates to learn the most.

Watch with others. Once the debate is over discuss what you heard and saw. Research shows that discussion helps clarify points made in the debate.
Set aside your partisan views. Use the debates to learn as much as possible about all candidates and their positions.
Don't worry about who won or lost. Both sides will claim victory. Since there are no criteria for determining a political debate winner, concentrate more on issues and ideas rather than on strategies. Focus on the question, "Who would make a better president, senators, governor, legislator, county clerk?"
Pay close attention to the candidates when they talk about how to solve problems. Listen carefully for comparisons between one candidate's programs and another's.
Identify the candidate's debate goals. Does the candidate speak directly to the issues, provide specifics, and present new policies or information? Or does the candidate evasively interpret questions to suit his/her agenda?
Identify the images that candidates try to create for themselves. Most candidates try to portray themselves as leaders and identify themselves with cherished American values while suggesting that their opponents lack these qualities. What in the responses supports their claims?
Be aware of the limitations of televised debates. Television works by showing action. To create action and minimize monotony, directors sometimes include reaction shots. These are camera angles that show one person's response to the comments of another. They can distract your attention from what is being said.
Try to learn more after the debate. Because most formats provide for brief responses, it is difficult to get a complete understanding of a candidate's position or the issues discussed. Follow up on the issues by watching and reading the news or visiting candidate's Internet web sites.

Learn More

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer: In Their Own Words
Find out more about each candidate's stance on the issues. The NewsHour has put together video and written statements from each of the candidates that allow you to see and read a variety of responses.

George Washington University: Debates.org.
This site offers a good review of how presidential debates are arranged, what the candidates negotiate, and a history of past debates.

This guide was adapted from material by the following National Communication Association members: Diana Carlin, University of Kansas; Robert Friedenberg, Miami University, Hamilton , OH; James Guadino, Speech Communication Association; Susan Hellweg, San Diego State University; John Morello, Mary Washington College; Michael Pfau, University of Wisconsin.

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