TV debates – a game changer
Posted by adamleeder on March 3, 2010
I see that the format of the television debates has finally been announced. Will they be a ‘game changer’ for the PM. I think so.
A lot has been made of the Nixon-Kennedy debates in 1960 – listeners on the radio gave the debate hands down to Nixon, those watching TV backed Kennedy. Some have argued this will happen when Brown and Cameron slog it out. Cameron (for all his many faults) will I am sure look to smoother of the two.
But Kennedy debated in an age when the public at large were not experienced at watching politicians in full flow, interacting. In an age where spin is derided it is possible that the very smoothness that aided Kennedy will be Cameron’s Achilles heel…plus Cameron is no Kennedy.
Strip that away, and the hothouse atmosphere of PMQs and what do you have? One man vastly experienced with a mastery of detail, and another policy lite.
To that end, the TV debates certainly have the potential to be a game changer.
