Determining the winner of a presidential debate can be subjective and influenced by factors such as media bias and personal opinion. Instant polls and expert analysis may provide insight, but it’s important to also consider a candidate’s plans and truthfulness. Good public speaking skills do not always equate to good leadership.
It can be hard to tell who wins a presidential debate in many cases. Often the candidates are quite close and both perform well, and the media is usually quick to proclaim a winner, which can then be refuted by public opinion and by the candidates themselves. Deciding who wins a presidential debate may come down to your personal opinion, or you could be more objective and decide that even if you don’t like the winner, it looks more effective. Many media outlets take instant polls directly after debates to determine the winner, but subsequent expert review of the debate could quickly change the results.
Sometimes a presidential debate will be scored by a few reviewers on a points system. The debate can be segmented into each question or issue section, with the people deciding who won each particular segment or issue. Yet it is difficult to determine the criteria for what constitutes a win. Some of the following questions might be asked to determine the winner:
Is the candidate who gets a concise or memorable comment the winner?
Does a candidate make mistakes or seem particularly agitated?
Do both candidates forget things or misbehave with no clear difference?
Who explained his position best?
Another problem, especially in modern times, is how a presidential debate is viewed. A television audience or someone reading a transcript of a debate may have a completely different opinion about who won than a person actually participating in the debate and watching the debate from a short distance. Other factors unrelated to the actual content of the debate may also play a role in determining the winner. A candidate who is not a very good speaker, but who is more likeable or personable, may be declared the winner. A candidate can look or feel more “presidential” and inspire confidence.
The criteria for what constitutes the payout can also be different for each candidate. Poor speakers might consider a presidential debate a victory if they show up and don’t make a big blunder. Excellent speakers may seek a win by being able to clearly clarify their disagreement with another candidate. Ultimately, many factors can determine wins or losses, and not all of these are directly measurable or constant. The winner could perhaps be the candidate who wins the election, although the clear winners of the debates do not always become president.
Perhaps a more important consideration for the average viewer and especially the average voter is watching each presidential debate with the goal of deciding which candidate best fits your needs as president. It’s wise not to rely on their speech alone to make this decision. After the debates, use independent fact-checking sites and organizations to see which candidate made their case truthfully, since candidates can inflate their political worth or make false claims.
It can help to hear expert analysis of the debates, but if you’re trying to make an objective choice, keep in mind that there is a media bias. It can also help to read the full text of the debates to determine which candidate was clearer. Poor public speaking skills don’t necessarily mean a person will be a bad president, and good public speaking skills don’t always translate into good leadership.
Also remember that a presidential debate is only one measure of a candidate’s potential worth as president. Check out candidate websites instead of relying on audio bytes or multimedia debates. You’ll often get a much clearer explanation of what a person intends to do as president if you read their full plans, which are usually available on their websites.
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