Opinions evaluated side-by-side

After almost 20 debates each for the Democrats and Republicans this election season, one would think that both candidates and voters would grow weary of the discussion.

But according to analysts and Penn students, these debates have played - and will likely continue to play - an important role in shaping this year's primaries.

"I think that people who vote in primaries tend to be people who are activists and are interested in the process," political communications specialist Larry Ceisler said. "Somewhere along the line, people who vote in the primaries have tuned into the debates."

Students agreed that debates are a good way to get basic information about candidates and their positions.

The debates let viewers evaluate the candidates side-by-side, Penn Democrats president Lauren Burdette said. "But they don't show you everything you need to know" because of time constraints, she added.

College Republicans president Zac Byer also pointed out that, particularly on the Democratic side, where the race is still close and the differences in policy are small, candidates can use the debates as a way to distinguish between campaign themes.

"As the field gets more limited, the substance [of the debates] gets better," he said.

The issue of debates received a great deal of attention from both the media and the candidates since Super Tuesday. Earlier this month, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton suggested holding one debate a week leading up to the March 4 primaries, and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama turned this offer down.

Ceisler said he believes Obama's recent string of victories - and the comfortable financial situation of his campaign - is the reason Obama did not agree to so many debates.

"Hillary Clinton needs to have debates because she doesn't have the money, so she needs them to get her message out," he said. "Obama has the money, so he'd rather have his message communicated unfiltered."

But despite agreement that candidates can effectively present their messages through debates, some Penn students question the influence these debates have on voters.

"I think the debates are more marketing than anything else," College senior Reid Cumming said.

Wharton sophomore Hyesoo Lee disagreed, saying the debates play a major part in voters' decisions.

"Even just the way the candidates speak shapes the impression they have," she said.

Regardless of how they feel about the debates, it seems that Penn students are still watching - both Cumming and Lee said they have tuned into at least one of the presidential debates.

The next Democratic debate will be held at the University of Texas in Austin on Thursday.

At this point, no date has been released for another Republican debate.

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