What effect have televised presidential debates had on election outcomes?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

While televised presidential debates can have entertaining and informative value, research suggests that their impact on election outcomes is generally quite small. While there can be exceptions to this rule, and some debates may be more influential than others, the majority of voters tend to base their decisions on factors such as party affiliation, candidate ideology, and key issues, rather than on the debates themselves. Thus, while debates may be important for shaping the national conversation and providing a forum for candidates to present their views, they do not generally have a large impact on the final result of the election.

What Effect Have Televised Presidential Debates Had on Election Outcomes