Presidential Candidates Face Off

Presidential debates are customary in many countries. They are necessary during presidential elections for people to make an informed decision on who they think can best run their country.During the debates, candidates get a chance to talk about their policies, priorities, positions, vision, values, and the like. 

One of the most widely watched debates in the world is the U.S. presidential debates. The debates are usually held during the latter days of the election cycle, after political parties have nominated their candidates. The debates are broadcast live on television, radio, and recently, online. 

The debates between Abraham Lincoln and Senator Stephen Douglas in 1858 were the predecessors of the country’s first U.S. presidential debatebetween Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon in 1960. It drew huge publicity especially for Kennedy who appeared sharp, confident, and relaxed during the debate. 

On September 26, 2016, the first presidential debate between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump was held at Hofstra University in New York. There was much anticipation on the debate’s outcome especially since Trump is untested in the kind of format that the debate has. The debate garnered the most viewers of any presidential debate in American history with 84 million viewers, not including those who watched it online and elsewhere. 

Candidates usually speak behind a podium or at conference tables while a moderator stays on the other side. Candidates do not have prior knowledge about the questions to be asked. The debates usually end with closing statements from each candidate. The formats of the debates vary. They can allow either one or more journalist moderators or members from the audience to ask questions. For example, this year’s second presidential debate had a “town meeting” format where questions came from members of the public as approved by moderators, contrary to the first debate in which questions only came from the moderator.

Television has influenced election campaigns a lot, allowing viewers to get to know the candidates in a way that radio could not. However, since television advertisements have become less convincing to voters because of advertisements’ scripted nature, debates have become helpful in allowing the largest possible audience to see the presidential aspirants in a more candid light.Televised debates reveal how well candidates can think on their feet, test how well they respond to questions and scrutiny, and determine the candidates’ knowledge of policies and timely issues that concern the country. For instance, the 2016 first U.S. presidential debate was about achieving prosperity, America’s direction, and securing