Thread by @paulachar

Pres. Trump goes head to head in #Debate2020 with Dem. Challenger #VP Joe Biden; these debates are certainly going to generate lots of interest. I previously worked on a presidential campaign as debate Coach. Follow this thread as l share the rules of political debating on TV.

In 2016 a record 80 Million watched the Televised debates between Dem. Hillary Clinton& Rep.Trump.Tonight’s debate may eclipse this number due to the #Covid-19 pandemic where many supporters of both candidates have largely kept away from large rallies #DebateTuesday #Debates2020

Tonight will present a chance to view and interrogate the candidates closely. The inability of millions to attend rallies may translate to the largest ever television audience television watching the debates. #Debates2020

The #debates also take place within the context of a very different media scene. The modern media cacophony has effectively ensured multiple channels to broadcast the debates; it is no longer just about TV, but also social media platforms that will stream&offer realtime analysis.

from ordinary citizens and not just Tv talking heads #Debates2020 #DebateTuesday

Political debating is a contact sport, the ultimate theatre of performance, which can determine whether a candidate wins the ultimate prize or not. Debates can be important in helping undecided voters make their choice. #Debates2020 #debates

In 2012 President Obama’s poll numbers took a beating after a #debate performance deemed below par in his first encounter with Republican challenger Mitt Romney. #debates

Political debating on TV requires preparation&mastery of the visual, vocal&verbal aspects of communicating. It is about a candidate transforming themselves into a “performance artist”.

60 Years ago, Democrat John F Kennedy debated Republican Richard Nixon, it was the first time Americans could tune in and watch the debates on television or listen on the radio. #Debates

During the first debate in that electoral cycle,Richard Nixon had refused to wear make-up for the cameras, and wore an ill-fitting shirt; JFK on the other hand put on make-up and had a well-fitting suit;

Post-debate analysis revealed that those Americans who tuned in over radio thought both candidates were evenly matched, but many were leaning towards a Nixon win.

It turns out that the 70 Million people who watched on television believed that JFK was the winner! It seemed like Political debating on tv was more about show than actual substance (More about this later) Looks, or the optics mattered in presidential races. #Debates2020

JFK after winning the elections was on record saying,” it was TV more than anything else that turned the tide.” #debates

Academic Kiku Adatto in her article “Photography changes the ways Political messages are packaged,” wrote about the way the combination of Audio and Vision (TV) affected the 1960 debates as well as other political contests. #Debates

Tonight, the first of the presidential debates between Pres. Trump&VP Biden take place. Both have engaged in Policy&Verbal brawls over the past couple of months&they will try to weave together various facts, insights, values& emotional appeals to try&connect with voters.

They are candidates with very different Communication Styles. Pres. Trump is a Direct Communicator & VP Biden is a Considerate Communicator. Let’s talk briefly about Communication Styles; #Debates2020

VP Biden’s Considerate Communication Style may work well for him in an electoral cycle in which the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the #US & voters may need someone who is empathetic. #debates #Debates2020

In his Communication Style, he comes across as less assertive, is quite process oriented, deliberate and appears very attentive during one-on-one interactions. He generally uses supportive language, and works hard to project team work and deploys a soft tone and “patient speech”

Biden’s Communication Strengths are that he comes across as someone who cares about others, seems to genuinely possess great consensus building skills. #DebateTuesday #Debates2020

The downside is that when debating with someone like Pres.Trump, his less assertive style may appear underwhelming. His task tonight is to show his experience, be passionate, confident and convey authority. #DebateTuesday

Pres.Trump in his Direct Communication Style tends to thrive on competition but struggles to initiate any personal narratives & can come across as cold. #DebateTuesday

He may come across as overbearing & could struggle to form personal connections with undecided voters since his communication style is not good at focusing on other people’s feelings. #DebateTuesday #Debates2020

He is not known for his Policy grasp but he understands it is all about show and little substance. He will thrive well, but will struggle to show empathy& must avoid the temptation to get impatient& start arguing rather than presenting his position. #Debates2020

Pres. Trump's exhibits "Tangential Thought Process" This is whereby a speaker will begin with one statement,then make another related statement that goes in another direction& then another statement that goes in still another direction, the processes continues........

....and it never returns to the original point." This may be a challenge point in the #Debates

I worked on the first Presidential debates in #Kenya in 2013. In the second part of this thread; #Debates2020 #DebateTuesday

And now some cardinal rules on debating #Debates2020 #DebateTuesday #1 The challenge for debaters is bringing together various facts, insights & values that voters share or can be persuaded to accept and then demonstrating how those ideas lead plausibly to an accepted conclusion.

#2 Though politics is about emotion as well as Logic, in the theater of political debating the debaters also compete to demonstrate who is better on a whole range of other intangible leadership qualities; Principles, Toughness, Patriotism….you can add to the list. #debates

#3 Talking emotional connections; the targeted viewer is emotional,not very rational& certainly doesn’t need empirical, “reasoning” to connect (Though invoking the numbers of Americans dead from COVID-19 may have impact) #debates

The number of deaths from #COVID19 is factual & #Biden will try to get the emotional connection by invoking this. #DebateTuesday

#4The majority of the watching audience does not know the “facts,” the details, or the names of major pieces of legislation. (This works to Trump advantage) As counter a #Biden may have to fact-check Trump or vice versa because majority really don't know what is true/false.

#5 The majority of those watching the debates cannot follow through any explanation on more than three levels of abstraction (remember you are not talking to subject matter experts) So the candidates must keep it simple or stay at the first level. #Debates

#6 When responding to a challenger’s assertions/misrepresentations, unless you can do so in less than 25 words; don’t respond. You could get into the trap of abstraction. #Debates2020

#7 But if you choose to respond to this misrepresentations of your position; select your opponents simplest and most consistently repeated misrepresentation and try correcting at every opportunity while pivoting to your own Policy Positions. #DebateTuesday

#8 What about an opponent who openly lies or presents fallacies. A challenger must call this out as soon as possible. It makes one to look smart & it also demonstrates an ability to think on one’s feet&could also mean they understand the issue possibly better than the challenger.

#9 The advantages of pointing out a logical fallacy is that it acts as a way of removing an argument from the debate. Many times, a debater will respond to an argument by just stating a counterargument. DON'T stop at this! #Debatenight

It is not sufficient, because the original argument still remains in the debate, though in a less persuasive form and the challenger is free to mount a rhetorical offensive on the same issue. Experienced debaters will take advantage of such a loophole. #Debates2020

#10 If one is able to show that a challenger’s argument is a fallacy,they can be able to put the challenger on the defensive by having to make them justify why their original argument should even be considered & If they cannot come up with a good reason,the argument is nullified.

#11 Make sure to have a list of the challenger’s reported blunders with you. If a challenger attacks you personally& they see that you have a list of his/her “dirty laundry” then may then back away from personal attacks.... #debates

...if they continue you move right down your list in response. To the emotional reasoning voter or supporter, this shows strength. A quality voters look out for. #Debates2020

#12 Always demonstrate authority. Politics is about authority and supporters and undecided voters watching the debates want to see that. #Debates2020

#12 Finally when you are participating in a debate always remember that you have a secondary audience; those who’ll read the newspapers tomorrow& also watch the talking heads spin post-debate; At times candidates forget to speak to them. Be intentional;talk to them! #Debates2020

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