There is no other way to describe this week’s first presidential debate other than what it was: an absolute sh*tshow. Maybe most of you attempting to watch didn’t even make it past the first 15 minutes, and I don’t blame you.
For an hour and 30 minutes, moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News asked President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden a variety of questions regarding the key issues facing America today. Wallace covered COVID-19, systemic racism, election fraud and more. However, people watching (myself included) were unable to hear the candidates, let alone get straightforward answers from them.
The tension would escalate frequently, and while that makes for great television, it wasn’t very presidential. Regardless of the insults, the debate — which normally produces an implied winner and loser — has been declared by many as a loss for both candidates.
Our post-debate poll with @Ipsos is in!!!@JoeBiden clearly won the debate against @realDonaldTrump:https://t.co/fjYvApAG7f pic.twitter.com/8PuoyhtvYR
— Micah Cohen (@micahcohen) September 30, 2020
Presidential debates are intended to give Americans a chance to hear more about the candidates’ platforms and how they speak. While Trump’s lack of substantial answers was expected, Biden did not present his platforms in the clear, concise way he should have. The lack of substance from both candidates didn’t help either of them — it just painted them both in a poor light. When Trump was asked to denounce white supremacy, his answer was obscure. When Biden was asked if he would pack the court, he declined to give a clear answer about what his plan is for the Supreme Court.
Presidential debates also have historically been used as a way for candidates to swing undecided voters in their direction. However, the first debate debate did not incentivize undecided individuals to pick a candidate. I would believe that these individuals are more solidified in their decision not to vote this year, because neither candidate presented a clear, straightforward case as to why they are the right man for the job. Any attempt to prove their ability to lead was drowned out by their constant interruptions of one another. Yes, Biden presented his clean energy plan, but the name calling and interruptions made anything of substance from either candidate difficult to hear. If anything, the debate demotivated undecided and moderate voters from voting simply due to the stress of watching both candidates speak in unprecedented ways to one another.
As many of us unwind from watching that debacle, let’s remember that there is a small amount of hope left. The debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris is set to air on Oct. 7, and is expected to provide more valuable answers to the questions many Americans have.
Going forward, there are going to have to be several dramatic changes brought to the debate stage if either candidate is to have any chance of winning voters to their side. Biden needs to present clear answers to the questions asked by moderators and must be prepared for Trump to make negative claims about his family. Trump must begin presenting a clear platform in order for undecided supporters to want to give him their vote. Currently, the polls have Biden with a significant lead over Trump, and unless there are some changes headed our way, things are most likely going to stay that way.