What is the significance of presidential debates? Give an ...

[lilldybug07]

What is the significance of presidential debates? Give an example.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What is Lyndon Johnson's Peace Little Girl campaign ad? Why is it significant?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[karlss]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Indicate that debates help candidates consolidate their voter base and correct misperceptions about the candidate's suitability for office.
2. Discuss how errors or slips of the tongue can result in negative coverage following a debate. For example, Gerald Ford stated that Poland was not under Soviet domination in 1976. He received bad press following this gaffe. In 1992, George Bush look bored and repeatedly looked at his watch in his debate with Bill Clinton. He also received negative press for this mistake.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Discuss how the ad was seen as so shocking it was only aired once. Nonetheless, the media continued to discuss the ad.
2. Discuss how the ad was clearly an example of negative advertising and the forerunner of negative ads that continue to be an important feature of today's campaigns.