1 year ago
593 Everyone who watches Donald Trump and Kamala Harris debate on Tuesday night will want to know the answer to a very simple question: Who won?
And while everyone might think they know themselves, in a sea of spin, soundbites, and political posturing there are ways to know who really won. Here's the Daily Beast’s guide to six key indicators—grounded in history, data, and political performance—which will provide a clearer guide.
Who Dominates the Narrative?
The most obvious way to determine a winner is to see who controlled the narrative (and perhaps talked the most in terms of minutes). Debates are not just about what the candidates say on stage but how their points resonate with the public afterward.
Did one candidate introduce a memorable zinger or a policy proposal that set the tone for post-debate coverage? One of the most famous examples of narrative control was Ronald Reagan’s 1980 debate with Jimmy Carter, when Reagan’s simple question to voters—“Are you better off than you were four years ago?”—became the defining takeaway. It encapsulated voter frustration with Carter’s presidency and was followed by Reagan’s landslide victory.
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