Political debates play a vital role in democracies, offering voters the opportunity to assess candidates’ positions on key issues in a pressured environment. They also offer a rare glimpse into candidate character under fire. Many political debate moments resonate in a way that shapes voter opinion and decision-making for years to come.
While most political debates do not result in major gaffes, there are a number of memorable moments that have shaped the public’s perception of certain candidates. In one instance, President Gerald Ford said that there was no Soviet dominance of Eastern Europe in 1975 during a debate on the motion “This House Believes that Extremism in Defence of Liberty is no Vice.” This statement would have been a significant departure from the US’s long-held policy of promoting democracy around the world by supporting the USSR’s neighbouring countries.
Other memorable moments include Gov. Michael Dukakis’ terse and bloodless response to a question about whether he believed in the death penalty, and his seeming lack of empathy. Also notable are the times that a candidate does not show up for a debate, such as when Joe Biden asked a joking Donald Trump to “will you shut up” at a 2016 debate.
While a debate’s format varies from country to country, it is generally defined by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). A tax-exempt nonprofit organization may stage candidate debates as long as it does not endorse, support, or oppose a particular candidate or party. A broadcaster, a bona fide newspaper, or a magazine may host a candidate debate as well, but must ensure that the moderator and all other participants are neutral. The CPD determines the venues for debates, and sets the questions to be asked, as well as other rules for the events.