“We Are Present Here Today for the Purpose of Having a Joint Discussion”: The Conditions Requisite for Political Debates

Abstract

Political debates are likely to occur only when at least five of the following six criteria are met: the election is likely to be close, each candidate expects to accrue advantages from, debating, each candidate perceives himself as a good debater, there are only two major candidates running for office, each candidate has control of all important variables in the debate situation, and the field is clear of incumbents. These criteria are used to explain the occurrence of Presidential debates in 1960 and 1976 and the absence of such debates in 1964 and 1968.