The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 22, 2023
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
Former President Trump announced August 20th that he will not be participating in the upcoming GOP debates, saying the public already knew him. But just how important are the debates?
Most research focuses on the final debates between the party nominees. Analysis of academic research by politics data site FiveThirtyEight concludes that debates are most helpful early in the cycle, when there are several candidates and voters don’t know much about them. A study of the 1996 primary found that the appearance of “electability” and being “presidential” in a primary debate can shift voter opinion.
The Pew Research Center has found consistently that two-thirds of voters found the final Presidential debates “very” or “somewhat” helpful, yet analysis of viewership by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found the share of American households watching the debates is only 30-40%. There is some research that network post-debate analysis and news coverage in the days following also impacts voter opinions on candidates.
A 2003 article in Communication Monographs showed that the first debate in a series CAN have an “agenda-setting effect,” voters DO learn from debates, and debates, especially primary debates, DO have influence voter preferences. GOP debates are so far scheduled for Wednesday, August 23rd, and September 27th. Wednesday’s debate can be seen on Fox News and Fox Business channels, and streamed online.
We have links to articles and study summaries at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Associated Press – Trump says he will skip GOP presidential primary debates
FiveThirtyEight – (2020) What We Know About The Impact Of Primary Debates
The Journalist’s Resource / Harvard Kennedy School – Presidential debates and their effects: Research roundup
Pew Research Center – (2012) Most Say Presidential Debates Influence Their Vote
Annenberg Public Policy Center – Presidential Debates: What’s Behind the Numbers?
Communication Monographs – (2003) A meta-analysis of the effects of viewing U.S. presidential debate
Pew Research Center – 5 facts about presidential and vice presidential debates
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – How to watch the first Republican presidential debate on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee
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