Political debate is the discussion or argument of opposing viewpoints on issues, policies and ideologies. It’s an important tool for informing voters, shaping public opinion and influencing policy decisions. Political debates can take many forms and vary in intensity, with a variety of rules and formats that impact how the arguments are presented.
For example, a quick-fire question format may highlight a candidate’s ability to think on their feet while a more relaxed town hall style might allow for a more personal connection with voters. The debate’s format can also play a significant role in how well candidates connect with the audience, which can in turn influence their perception of one another.
After the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon series, presidential debates became a major American institution. But for a front-runner, debating meant risking bad press if the show didn’t go well — as it had for Lyndon Johnson and Nixon in 1960. Then, campaigns began to wrestle control of the debate process, limiting participation to those who had a reasonable chance of winning the Electoral College. And in the 1980s, the Democratic and Republican parties took over control of presidential debates through the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).
The CPD’s rules for presidential debates require a candidate to be nominated by his or her party for the presidency. In addition, a candidate must have a “reasonable chance” of victory in the Electoral College, defined by five national public opinion polling organizations. The CPD does not accept donations from politicians or PACs, and it has nonpartisan board members from across the country.