Ahead of Tuesday’s Maryland gubernatorial debate, Public Policy Professor and Chair Donald Norris analyzed what was at stake in the debate and what each candidate needed to accomplish.
In an interview on WJZ Channel 13, Norris said, “what each candidate needs to accomplish at the debates is first to look personable so that they don’t turn people off with their demeanor. And secondly, they have to not make any mistakes.” He added, “different people are going to have different perspectives on who wins or who loses — again — unless somebody makes a really big mistake,” Norris added.
On WYPR, Norris commented on the potential impact of the debates. “Debates don’t matter much, especially gubernatorial debates, because nobody watches them,” Norris said. He noted that because debates don’t generally draw a large audience, it would take a major mistake by one of the candidates for voters to notice.
“If somebody makes a big blunder it’ll be all over the television, all over the radio, in the newspaper — you know: ‘Brown stumbles badly, Hogan doesn’t remember where Annapolis is’ whatever it may be,” Norris said.
Norris was also quoted in a Washington Post article published on October 11 about Gov. Martin O’Malley’s approval ratings.
To read, watch and listen to the full stories, click below:
The Stage is Set for the First Gubernatorial Debate on Oct. 7 (WJZ)
What’s at Stake at First Governor’s Race Debate? (WYPR)
As O’Malley’s approval rating falls, Md. voters not confident in his presidential bid (Washington Post)
Tags: CAHSS, PublicPolicy
