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What kind of impact will debates have?

Tonight’s debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump will be theater, but will it be effective political theater or theater that edifies its audience?

Judging on the passage of more than 15 months of campaigning, we have our doubts.

Both candidates will try to define what appearing “presidential” means.

Is it the shrill policy-wonk attitude of Hillary Clinton or the blunt, gaffe-prone, insulting demeanor of Trump that is more “presidential?” Because anyone expecting the political pundit’s call for a “pivot” by either of them should stop wondering with less than 50 days before the election.

The conventional wisdom at this point in the game is that the debates will have an impact the election. But this has been an election that defies past sensibilities and predictions.

We would contend that for many, the presidential election of 2016 has degenerated to a daily set of insult-and-respond reports, the concept of substance long since forgotten. Even when attempts are made at being substantive — Trump did release an economic program this month — they’re often lost to the quick sound-bite, quip and counter-quip nature of the first truly Twitter-driven presidential election.

The debate season provides a chance for voters to check back into the presidential race.

But if the tone and tenor of the conduct of the candidates doesn’t change, tonight could be the last time people who aren’t entrenched behind one or the other will pay attention.

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