The US Election: 3. The TV Debates

Margaret O’Mara, an American History Chair at the University of Washington, discusses the impact of TV debates on US presidential elections, focusing on the visual presentation's influence since the Kennedy-Nixon debate. The evolution of these debates emphasizes candidate preparation strategies and memorable moments like Reagan's charisma in 1980. The role of social media, Gen Z, and millennials in shaping electoral strategy and the possibility of candidates skipping debates in future elections are also explored.