# Do you think that we'll have this many debates between Obama and the Republican nominee? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 16, 2011, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389 "2011-12-16T07:19:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/1 "2011-12-16T07:19:28Z")
Will they run the entire election this way? Week after week of one on one debates? ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/2 "2011-12-16T07:26:21Z")
No the unlike these GOP clowns the President has a job and shit to do. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/3 "2011-12-16T12:56:48Z")
No. There will be 2-4 Presidential debates around the country. They will be carefully codified by both teams to provide maximum predictability for the candidates. Little will be gained. It is absolutely true that one cannot win elections through debates but one can, indeed, lose them through debates. So there’s little incentive for both sides to have endless debates. Toss in that these debates are happening so often because they appear to be ratings winners for the news networks and you have a recipe for ‘good now, bad later’. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/4 "2011-12-16T14:04:27Z")
During every general Presidential election campaign they go on for weeks about how many debates there are going to be. And then, every single time, there are three debates. That’s not to say it can’t be different this time, but I really doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/5 "2011-12-16T14:58:40Z")
The number of debates will be determined by the polls. If one candidate has a clear lead, he will decline as many debates as he can. The closer the polls are, the more likely there will be more debates. There is no advantage for a clear front runner to risk a debate slip up. He has nothing to gain and everything to lose. In the primaries, like we’re seeing with the Republicans right now, all the single digit guys want as many debates as possible. That pretty much forces the front runner to participate. The debates would happen with or without him. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/6 "2011-12-16T15:16:10Z")
Another no vote. Presidential debates are so predictable, boring and lacking in substance that I don’t bother watching them. Regardless of the questions from moderators or the candidates, the programmed responses are the same, and rarely even answer the questions. Ratings death. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/7 "2011-12-16T23:07:25Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > No the unlike these GOP clowns the President has a job and shit to do. Frankly, comparing these GOP reptiles to clowns is offensive to clowns. Clowns have jobs and shit to do as well. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/8 "2011-12-17T01:47:34Z")
My correspondent from the reptilian contingent has asked me to express his dismay at the above. He would have posted about it himself, but he had schedule conflicts that left him too little time. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/9 "2011-12-17T01:54:01Z")
I expect they’ll just have the traditional three debates. Like **John Mace** said, the front runner always wants fewer debates, the guy in second place wants more, and in recent years they’ve always settled on three. The Republicans are having a lot of debates because there are so many of them that they all get squeezed for airtime and it’s harder to make an impression, and because they’re courting different groups. Nobody except reporters is watching all of these. When you get down to two candidates, a couple of nationally-televised debates is enough. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/10 "2011-12-17T05:28:07Z")
[Gingrich has said](http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jjwcifX-kyTR74AuXYxQbXmryPtQ?docId=CNG.5e8ac5c2a9b4aae9e06b37574187c1ac.2d1): > [@](#): > > “I can debate Barack Obama and I think in seven three-hour debates, Barack Obama will not have a leg to stand on in trying to defend a record that is terrible and an ideology that is radical,” Gingrich said. Seven three-hour debates! That prospect alone is enough to make everyone hope that Romney wins. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Naxos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/11 "2011-12-17T05:32:35Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > No the unlike these GOP clowns the President has a job and shit to do. Not to mention he can formulate a sentence, rather than just pander to the racist vote - a conservative staple for the past 40+ years. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/12 "2011-12-17T05:42:03Z")
One of the President’s job is to run for re-election. He’d make time to debate as often as the Republican candidate wanted to his (or her) ass handed to them. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/13 "2011-12-17T05:57:56Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > [Gingrich has said](http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jjwcifX-kyTR74AuXYxQbXmryPtQ?docId=CNG.5e8ac5c2a9b4aae9e06b37574187c1ac.2d1): > > Seven three-hour debates! That prospect alone is enough to make everyone hope that Romney wins. 😃 Well of course Gingrich wants as many debates as possible he’s still on a book tour. The goal is to make money. Even in his self deluded world I think even he realizes he has no chance at the presidency. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/14 "2011-12-17T06:19:33Z")
There are going to be four of them, and they have already been scheduled. [http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012-debate-schedule/2012-presidential-debate-schedule/](http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012-debate-schedule/2012-presidential-debate-schedule/) ---
**Author:** ![gatorslap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/15 "2011-12-17T07:42:48Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > There are going to be four of them, and they have already been scheduled. > > [2012 Presidential Debate Schedule « 2025 Election Central](http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012-debate-schedule/2012-presidential-debate-schedule/) That’s three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate. That’s what we’ve had every election since 1976 and people seem to like it that way. This will probably not change in our lifetimes. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/16 "2011-12-17T16:58:28Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > One of the President’s job is to run for re-election. He’d make time to debate as often as the Republican candidate wanted to his (or her) ass handed to them. No, he wouldn’t and no, it wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/17 "2011-12-19T03:49:57Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > No, he wouldn’t and no, it wouldn’t. And no, it isn’t (a President’s job to run for re-election, that is). ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/18 "2011-12-19T04:59:31Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > And no, it isn’t (a President’s job to run for re-election, that is). Seriously? Can you make a justification of this in real-world terms? Not as some abstract philosophy about what should be, but in terms of what is? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/19 "2011-12-19T05:17:37Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Seriously? > > Can you make a justification of this in real-world terms? Not as some abstract philosophy about what should be, but in terms of what is? Sure. It isn’t a part of his job. It’s only the job of a candidate for POTUS. I know of nothing that mandates a sitting President must run again. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389/20 "2011-12-19T05:24:27Z")
I missed the edit window while I was doing it, but a quick google shows that of the 44 people who have been president, at least a dozen were not on the ballot for re-election after their first term. Some may have simply not been nominated by their party, I suppose, but not all. LBJ is the most recent POTUS who didn’t run for re-election after this first term. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-that-well-have-this-many-debates-between-obama-and-the-republican-nominee/606389.md?page=2)