Debates in the TV era

2000 There were three. Gore-Bush was an open race -- no incumbent.

1996 The "weak" Bob Dole "folded his cards to please Clinton," to paraphrase one of the DU geniuses, and accepted Clinton's two debates, take 'em or leave 'em offer.

1992 Under pressure from a weak economy and Ross Perot's insurgent candidacy, George H.W. Bush has three debates with Clinton and Perot.

1988 Another open race. Dukakis and the elder Bush have two debates.

1984 Reagan, riding a huge wave of popularity, gives Mondale two debates, for which Mondale is grateful.

1980 Reagan takes the one debate Carter agrees to attend.

1976 Ford, the incumbent, actually issues the challenge to Carter. Ford, hobbled by a tumultuous economy and the nation's anger at his pardon of Nixon, was trailing by as much as 30 points at times in the polls. They have 3 debates.


So there it is. In the TV era, the incumbent has twice, Ford and the elder Bush, both in trouble, and both eventual losers, agreed to three debates. The rest of the time there were either two or one. Kerry wanted three debates, and he got them. The rules are almost secondary, and it seems highly improbable Bush would have agreed to both more liberal debate rules and three debates. Kerry did fine for himself. Republican talking points are nothing more than spin, and when you cry about the debate rules without looking at the big picture, it looks like you bought the Republican spin that Kerry is weak and ineffectual. It's also focusing on the negatives, which is something losers do.