The presidential debate will be informative
Monday night will see the first of three presidential debates leading up to the election.
It will be the first true face-to-face showdown between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.
Despite all of the campaign appearances, speeches, press releases, Tweets, and all the rest, we really do not know what to expect from Monday night’s event.
There are “experts” making predictions, sharing all sorts of ideas based on knowledge of each candidate and past performances. However, this is an entirely new ballgame.
We have seen much during the last year as part of this presidential election. Candidates have come and gone, insults have been thrown, accusations have been made.
The debates are where it all comes together, though. This is where you get a better idea of how each candidate truly will fare under pressure.
There are no Teleprompters to feed them lines. There won’t be staff to run onto the stage and hand them notes.
Questions will be asked, and answers will be expected.
There will be pressure on each candidate, the focus of millions of voters who expect to truly hear where each stands on the issues.
We have much to consider in the next six weeks, with so many concerns taking place in our country and around the world.
There will be no “time outs” to call once the next president has been selected. That individual, while not in office for a few more months, will have to hit the ground running, reaching out to the members of Congress and others in the federal government, working to hire staff, creating relationships with officials in other nations, and making sure they know what is actually going on in the world.
There are some who would say that, by now, most of the voters pretty much have their minds made up as to whom they will cast their vote.
That shouldn’t stop anyone from paying attention, though, because you never know what will be said or done in the next few weeks.
A single night can make all the difference. A statement, a look, an attitude can change someone’s perception and opinion on a particular candidate.
Many cite the 1960 election for such examples, with one particular debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.
It was the first presidential debate to ever be nationally televised, and preparation ended up being the key.
It wasn’t so much the statements or knowledge of either candidate on the issues, as it was their experience with the medium.
Kennedy had some experience with television already, while Nixon had very little.
Kennedy opted for makeup, and other regular television needs. Nixon did not.
It was said, as a result, Kennedy looked well-rested while Nixon looked exhausted and unfocused under the hot lights. For some voters, that made all the difference.
Even if you aren’t necessarily interested in politics, or even if you have made up your mind, it never hurts to check in on at least one of the three debates scheduled.
It helps you to be more informed, and we get a better idea of how each individual might actually be once they do get the privilege of sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office.
(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter @CHowellWDT)
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