Political debate is the process of addressing key issues in a face-to-face format so voters can better understand and compare candidates’ positions. The concept of political debate dates back to the 19th century when Senator Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas held a series of seven debates on the question of slavery extension. These debates became a vital campaign tool and marked the beginning of a long tradition of political debate.
Leaders’ Debates
A leaders’ debate, sometimes called a heads-up debate in the United Kingdom, is a special type of presidential debate in which party leader(s) answer questions from the audience. The format varies, but typically the leaders will begin by each making a short opening statement, then members of a well-known panel will ask sets of prepared questions. Each leader will then be given the opportunity to answer each question, after which there may be some time for a heated “free-for-all” discussion.
How Does the CPD Decide Which Candidates to Invite to its Debates?
The CPD’s nonpartisan, voter education goal is to afford the public an opportunity to sharpen their views of the leading presidential candidates in a focused debate format. The decision to establish a 15 percent polling threshold to determine eligibility for a debate is based on careful study and strikes a balance between being inclusive enough to allow the participation of candidates who are believed to have significant national support and not being so inclusive that invitations would be extended to those with only scant public support, which could jeopardize the debates’ voter education purpose.