Do the debates really matter?

Do the debates really matter? That was the main question on my mind while watching the first debate between Obama and Romney. In my mind, Romney outdebated Obama very clearly. That doesn't mean what he said had more merit but rather the way he presented his statements and attacked his opponent was superior to Obama's performance. Despite feeling this way, I didn't agree with anything Romney said and thought most of it was a bunch of fluff. He never once stated what he WOULD do as president only what Obama had done 'wrong'. As I watched, I was nervous for how Obama's poor performance would affect the election. I hoped that it wouldn't make a huge difference because most people who watch the debates care enough to have already formed an opinion about most of the important issues. But that might just have been because I didn't watch the debates as an undecided viewer.

 'As many as 62 percent of voters agree with the statement: "Romney is promising more than he can deliver."' This number gives me hope that other viewers saw what I saw in Romney's performance. A good debater not a good president. 

However, I think the truth is that the debates do make a difference.  Romney has gained an average of 4.6 percentage points since the debate. That's a big change in the polls. Studies indicate that the presidential debate doesn't usually have a big impact. But this year it could.

But in this final month of an election, people decide whether or not they're going to vote, whether they're going to try to enlist other people. So I think that almost day-by-day, for the month that's left, we're going to see changes in this narrative that will matter and should matter. -Jim Fallows

I think Fallows is right. The debate won't really have changed people's opinions on the issues or their views of the candidates and where they stand. What it will have changed is people's perception of the candidates which will influence whether or not they vote and how much they encourage others to vote.