Melissa Overbeck
Assistant Perspectives Editor
With the November election just around the corner and the presidential race one of the closest in recent history, the debates tonight will prove to be crucial to the outcome. The pressure is mostly on Kerry. As the challenger, he has the most to prove and consequently the most to gain or lose in the debates. Bush comes in with relatively solid footing, as the American public has low expectations of his public speaking skills and can rely on what they have seen in the past four years rather than what he professes in the debates.
The success of Kerry’s campaign is on the line, and he must prove that he has learned lessons both from candidates in past debates and from his own campaign.
First, Kerry must combat the “flip-flopper” image the Republicans and the media have given him. He must convince the American people that it’s OK for a candidate or elected official to change his or her mind when new information is introduced. The world is not black and white, and consequently issues are not simply right or wrong. Kerry must show the value of having an elected leader who is willing to consider the facts as they come and adjust his decisions accordingly.
In addition, to successfully diffuse the negative effects of Kerry’s flip-flop reputation, the public needs to believe that America is safer with a leader who is willing to change his mind if he learns new information than with a leader who sticks to his original plan, even if it becomes apparent that the plan will hurt the United States.
Kerry must learn from Al Gore’s mistakes in the 2000 debates. Gore fared poorly in the debates despite his linguistic advantage because he was perceived by some as condescending and dull. The American public wants a leader with whom it can identify and connect. Gore’s sighs and haughty language made him seem impatient and condescending, and consequently unapproachable.
Kerry will face the same opponent as Gore did in 2000. Although more experienced, Bush will have the same poor speaking skills and affinity for misnomers that he had four years ago. Rather than gaining by exploiting Bush’s weaknesses, Gore came off poorly, losing respect from some swing voters. Kerry must not do the same. He must treat the president with respect and attempt to win the debate by focusing on the ways in which his policy is better than the president’s, rather than the fact that he has better command of the English language.
Gore also suffered after the debates because of the lack of personality and expression in his debate speeches. The former vice president was nicknamed “Al Bore” and consequently suffered in the polls. In the past year, Kerry has been headed down a similar path. He, like Gore, has struggled to show energy and enthusiasm and connect with voters. Thus, in the debates he will have to make an extra effort to appear alive, enthusiastic and real — in essence, he will need to do the best John Edwards impression he can. While Edwards has done his best to bring life to the campaign, Kerry will have to step up during the debates and prove that he too is lively and personable.
Finally, Kerry must make an effort to speak to ordinary Americans in the debate. Kerry is highly intelligent, and he often speaks as though he is addressing a solely academic crowd — whether or not that is the case. In the debates, Kerry needs to use plain, clear language to explain his positions in a way in which everyday voters understand and identify.
Ultimately, the outcome of the debate rests in Kerry’s hands. The nation has been watching Bush speak and act for the past four years and thus knows how he intends to run the country if re-elected. It is up to Kerry to convince voters that America would benefit from a change, and that he is the person who can be trusted to effectively make that change.
09-30-2004