Political debates bring opposing viewpoints to the forefront of the American public’s attention. They are essential to forming opinions and influencing policy decisions, whether they are local, regional or national in scope. The tradition of integrating debate into presidential campaigns dates back to the 19th century.
The CPD’s goal has been to provide an opportunity for voters to sharpen their views in a well-structured debate format with candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. In a political environment saturated with television advertisements and talk radio, the presidential debates remain one of the few opportunities for voters to see and hear major candidates side-by-side.
Each candidate will be allotted two minutes to answer the questions presented by the moderator and rebut the arguments of their opponent. The time allocation is determined by a coin toss prior to the debate. The moderator will also use a system of colored lights reminiscent of traffic signals to let the candidates know how much time they have remaining.
As a result of rising political polarization, many Americans have come to view their nation as permanently divided into “red” and “blue” camps. Spending any time scrolling social media or reading news articles can make you feel like America is a constant battleground where off-hand remarks trigger fierce screaming matches. Unfortunately, this perception may be more reality than fantasy. A new study co-authored by Berkeley Haas Assistant Professor Erica Bailey suggests that Americans greatly misperceive how often, in what context and with whom they debate.