Prediction for tonight's debate

[DavidDvorkin]

Poll question: Prediction for tonight's debate

The giant group mind of DU knows everything.

[Guava Jelly]

1. I voted Minimal

Tonight's debate will have minimal or no effect on either campaign

[DavidDvorkin]

2. So did I

Just now. I forgot to vote after posting my own poll. Oops.

That really is what I think, but I hope there'll be lots of deliberately silly posts.

[Guava Jelly]

4. I remember all the Bush /Kerry debates

Kerry won every one of them yet he didn't win the election.
These debates really have little effect if you ask me.
I am sure this thread will get a little silly.
I'll just sit back and watch :popcorn:

[DavidDvorkin]

7. Hell, I thougth Carter made Reagan look like a fool

But the press dubbed the slimeball the Great Communicator and made everyone believe it.

[monmouth]

3. I'm sick of debates, I think all has been said that's gonna be...n/t

[HeraldSquare212]

5. The debate will have little effect, but the coverage could have a big effect.

The headlines may well be, "Hillary doesn't get a knockout," "Hillary fails to dent Obama," etc. Especially since she's made a big deal about wanting to debate him, I think the coverage will be in the context of the horserace, and not on what is said. Since they've had so many debates, I don't expect Obama to commit a major gaffe; if this were first or second or third debate, that might be different.

[CTD]

6. The only way tonight's debate will actually impact the race will be if...

If Hillary goes as negative as she is expected to go on Obama, I think that could turn off a significant portion of those still supporting her. If she only goes mildly negative or not negative at all, the debate (regardless of who is seen as "winning") won't move any polls. I suspect that she thinks she needs to go VERY negative in order to move the polls in her favor. But the opposite will happen. If she goes VERY negative, her attacks will look desperate and dirty and will further damage her campaign.