Morning Jolt: This System of Debates Is Failing Everyone

On the menu today: Both the Democratic and Republican Parties need to recognize the disaster that is the debate setup this cycle and plan accordingly for next time.

This Debate System Does Candidates a Disservice

After last night's debate of angry shouting and incoherent crosstalk, it is time for the Democratic National Committee to recognize that its system and design for this cycle's primary debates is failing just about everyone, and for the Republican National Committee to take notes for next cycle.

How many candidates entered this cycle thinking, "Sure, I'm not well known nationally, but once I'm up on that debate stage, people will realize what a superstar I am, and the donations to fuel our campaign will roll in"? The problem is that it is extremely difficult to stand out on a debate stage with ten people, and even harder when the party holds two debates over consecutive nights to accommodate the twenty candidates who qualified. Candidates such as Tim Ryan, Michael Bennet, Jay ...

WITH JIM GERAGHTY February 26 2020 WITH JIM GERAGHTY February 26 2020 This System of Debates Is Failing Everyone On the menu today: Both the Democratic and Republican Parties need to recognize the disaster that is the debate setup this cycle and plan accordingly for next time. This Debate System Does Candidates a Disservice After last night's debate of angry shouting and incoherent crosstalk, it is time for the Democratic National Committee to recognize that its system and design for this cycle's primary debates is failing just about everyone, and for the Republican National Committee to take notes for next cycle. How many candidates entered this cycle thinking, "Sure, I'm not well known nationally, but once I'm up on that debate stage, people will realize what a superstar I am, and the donations to fuel our campaign will roll in"? The problem is that it is extremely difficult to stand out on a debate stage with ten people, and even harder when the party holds two debates over consecutive nights to accommodate the twenty candidates who qualified. Candidates such as Tim Ryan, Michael Bennet, Jay ...   READ MORE

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