A political debate can be a key moment in a candidate’s campaign, providing an opportunity to energize their base and distinguish themselves from their rivals. But it also provides fertile ground for gaffes and missteps that can do lasting damage. This is why a candidate’s comprehensive preparation is critical.
Preparation begins well before the event. A debate team will assemble briefing books on policy and a position book for the opponents, which typically include a list of potential questions, down to possible phrasing. They may also comb through archived interviews by the moderator to gain insight into their likely approach.
In addition, the team will spend significant time practicing and rehearsing a variety of scenarios that can arise in the event. The candidates will also negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding that settles various terms and conditions for the debate (for a synthesis of MOU content, see Appendix Five).
The primary purpose of debates is to give voters an opportunity to sharpen their views in a focused format, enabling them to compare and contrast the main orientations of the candidates. They can also promote pluralism of opinion and expression and contribute to civic education by helping citizens better understand the role of elected officials, constitutional procedures, and electoral rules.
In some developing countries, where fledgeling democratic structures and poor media penetration limit voter information, election debates are often the only opportunity for citizens to assess the qualifications of parliamentary candidates and their policy stances. However, a knowledge gap remains around the impact of different types of debates on voter deliberation.