Keller @ Large: No Downside To All The Debates
BOSTON (CBS) - If you didn't catch last night's Republican presidential candidates debate, I hate to break it to you, but that might have been your last chance for awhile – or forever.
Listen to Jon's commentary:
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The next scheduled debate isn't until February 22nd, and that one has already been re-scheduled twice before.
If Mitt Romney picks up a head of steam and wins the five primaries and caucuses between now and then, you could see candidates dropping out before then, and if you think Romney, virtually assured of the nomination, is going to drag himself through four nationally-televised debates with Ron Paul, you might want to think again.
So while anything can happen, especially in this precedent-shattering race, let's take a moment to assess whether this unprecedented proliferation of televised debates has been good or bad for democracy.
On the good side, I'd say that while the debates have been of widely varying substance and quality, overall they've served the basic purposes of productive political debates.
They have given candidates a chance to spell out their views on a range of issues, and defend them against challenge from each other.
They have given the voters a chance to get to know the candidates better, and see how they respond to the pressure, both as politicians and people.
They gave priceless exposure to underfunded candidates like Herman Cain and Rick Santorum who might otherwise have never had a chance to compete as successfully as they did at times.
They prevented wealthy candidates like Romney and Rick Perry from simply overwhelming the campaign with their ad budgets.
They exposed and helped eliminate the frauds and cast sunlight on the warts of the survivors, even as they gave all who were up to it a chance to showcase themselves at their best.
All of that strikes me as good for the democratic process.
And the downside of the debates?
There wasn't one.
If you couldn't stand them – well, that's what your remote control is for.
You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.
