On Debate Formats

Wednesday night’s debate was the best high-stakes (DNC sanctioned, nationally televised) debate yet. And it demonstrated one counterintuitive fact about debate formats: candidates seem more like windbags when they have time limits (that is, when they have a specific block of time they are allotted no matter what they are saying) than when the moderator gets to use discretion to stop candidates when they aren’t answering the question.

The “Lightning Round,” during which candidates were allotted 30 seconds (with an on-screen timer!) for answers, came off as anything but fast-paced. The trick candidates have learned is that they get 30 seconds for their ‘answers’ no matter what they talk about, and time restrictions prevent follow-ups and clarification questions. They took full advantage of the opportunities to get back on message after Russert’s more pointed questions from the first hour or so.

Maybe this is a lesson someone will learn for future debates?