Pew Research: The 2024 Presidential Debates: Breaking Tradition and Making History

As we approach the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle on Thursday, June 27th, it's clear that this year's debates are set to break new ground in several ways. Let's dive into what makes these debates unique and explore some fascinating facts about presidential debates in American politics.

An Unprecedented Early Start

This year's first debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump is happening earlier than ever before. Traditionally, presidential debates have been held in September or October, but the June 27th debate marks a significant departure from this norm. In fact, it's so early that neither candidate will have been officially nominated by their party yet.

New Organizers at the Helm

Another break from tradition is the organization of the debates. While the Commission on Presidential Debates has sponsored all presidential and vice presidential debates since 1988, this year's debates are being organized by major news networks. CNN will host the June debate, while ABC is set to host the September 10th follow-up.

High Viewership, Despite Changing Media Landscape

Presidential debates continue to draw massive audiences. The first Trump-Biden debate in 2020 attracted over 73 million viewers, making it the third-largest debate audience ever. Only the first Clinton-Trump debate in 2016 (84 million viewers) and the Carter-Reagan debate in 1980 (80.6 million) drew larger audiences.

Age Demographics of Debate Viewers

Interestingly, older viewers are more likely to tune in to the debates. The 2020 Trump-Biden debate had a 42.7 rating among viewers 55 and older, compared to just 12.0 among 18- to 34-year-olds. However, it's worth noting that these figures don't account for streaming or online viewing, which is more common among younger audiences.

Debates’ Impact on Voter Decision-Making

While many voters find debates helpful, they're not necessarily the deciding factor in how people vote. In past elections, only about 10% of voters said they made up their minds during or just after the debates. However, a majority of voters consistently find the debates at least somewhat helpful in their decision-making process.

The Evolution of Debate Formats

The structure of presidential debates has changed significantly since the first televised debates in 1960. Early debates featured panels of journalists questioning the candidates. Today's debates typically use either a single moderator or a town hall format, which was introduced in 1992.

As we look forward to the June 27th debate, it's clear that while the format and timing may be different, the importance of these events in the American political process remains unchanged. They continue to offer voters a unique opportunity to see candidates discuss important issues side-by-side, helping to inform the electorate as they prepare to make their choice in November.

Whether you plan to watch live or catch up later, remember that these debates are just one piece of the puzzle in understanding the candidates and their positions. As always, it's crucial to seek out additional information from reliable sources to make an informed decision come election day.

The facts and figures presented in this blog post are based on research conducted by the Pew Research Center, a respected nonpartisan think tank that provides valuable insights into American politics and society. Click on this link to read the full report: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/06/21/6-facts-about-presidential-and-vice-presidential-debates/