Presidential Debate Blunders - Epic Moments Can Change History
GoLocalProv Political Team
Presidential Debate Blunders - Epic Moments Can Change History
Debate performances in the past have often decided elections in the past.
SLIDES: SEE EPIC DEBATE BLUNDERS BELOW
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"I think that basically, Donald Trump has to demonstrate that he has the credibility to create a sort of complete economic turnaround in a way that’s more important than any other issue, and Joe Biden needs to hammer home the coronavirus in a way that he’s never hammered it home before, and he’s done quite a bit of hammering," adds Lawless.
But, throughout the history of presidential moments, there have been moments that have recast the election -- some have been fatal for candidates, as in the case of 1976 and the performance of then-President Gerald Ford (see video below).
George W. Exceeded Expectations, Obama's Anniversary
"In 2000, it wasn’t just that George Bush exceeded expectations, it was that Al Gore’s personality in that debate was so off-putting. It wasn’t just the lockbox, it was the sighing and the moaning and the grunting and making faces that made George Bush come across as this likable guy," said Lawless. "That goes to the famous question who would you rather have a beer with. It didn’t matter what party you were, you definitely did not want to go out for a beer with Al Gore."
In 2012, Obama raised questions with a subpar performance in the first debate versus GOP candidate Mitt Romney.
"It’s a combination [of] do you exceed expectations, or does your opponent underperform? Any combination of those two factors can ultimately lead to success," said Lawless. "In 2012, during that first debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, Obama literally said in his opening his statement it was his anniversary and he’d rather be at dinner with Michelle. That did not go well for him, right? And then he rallied in the second and third debate and it was the Barack Obama everybody knew. But that had at least helped Romney generate some degree of enthusiasm, and it made people stay tuned to see what would happen in that second debate."
"It’s hard to imagine [Trump or Biden] doing anything at this point that’s going to change the way that voters feel. If you look back at the poll results over the last several months, they’ve generally been stable," Lawless added. "The conventions haven’t really mattered, major blips haven't really mattered. Polling post-Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death indicates there’s no real change either. Now for Joe Biden, this is good news, since not since 1996 has a Presidential candidate polled this far ahead of his opponent — and in 1996 [Bill] Clinton won handily. The next time the margin was as big as it is was Reagan in ’84."
SEE VIDEOS BELOW OF EPIC BLUNDERS
Presidential Debate Blunders in History - September 2020
Sweaty Nixon - 1960
It may have been the seminal moment in politics - and television - in the country's history.
The Presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon may have been won by Kennedy due to Nixon's sweat.
Those who listened to the debate on the radio thought Nixon prevailed -- but those that watched said Kennedy won.
Poland Blunder - 1976
During a 1976 presidential debate against Jimmy Carter, President Gerald Ford said, "There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe."
The moderator, Max Frankel of the New York Times, responded, "I'm sorry, what? ... did I understand you to say, sir, that the Russians are not using Eastern Europe as their own sphere of influence in occupying most of the countries there and making sure with their troops that it's a communist zone?"
Ford insisted that Poland, Romania, and Yugoslavia were free from Soviet interference.
Keeping Track of Time - 1992
In the three-way Presidential debate with Bill Clinton and Ross Perot, President George H.W. Bush repeatedly looked at his watch.
Many viewers thought that Bush was expressing that he had someplace better to be.
Bush lost to Clinton.
Gore's Endless Sighs - 2000
Al Gore's endless sighing during the 2000 debate against George W. Bush sparked endless mockery, as did his decision to leave the podium and come within inches of Bush during a response.
"You're no Jack Kennedy" - 1988
Admittedly not a Presidential moment but rather a Vice-Presidential one, but it was epic.
Republican Dan Quayle likened his political experience to that of President John F. Kennedy. Democratic opponent U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen was waiting in wait and pounced.
"I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy," said Bensten.
"That was really uncalled for, Senator," Quayle responded.
Dukakis' Rape Response - 1988
Democratic Presidential nominee and Massachusetts Governor Mike Dukakis was known as a technocrat and had little ability to connect with voters.
His response to CNN's Bernard Shaw's question about whether he would support the death penalty should his wife, Kitty, be raped and murdered only reinforced the perception that Dukakis could not connect.
"No, I don't, Bernard, and I think you know that I've opposed the death penalty during all of my life. I don't see any evidence that it's a deterrent and I think there are better and more effective ways to deal with violent crime," said Dukakis.
Obama's Anniversary - 2012
President Barack Obama's first presidential debate in 2012 was less than stellar.
He started off inferring that he would rather be out with his wife Michelle for their anniversary.
Romney had a clear victory, but Obama came back in debates #2 and #3 and easily won reelection.
