You're watching...
Political commentator Pat Buchanan on the impact of debates on the Presidential race.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
-- -- -- -- -- What's at stake for this big debate now but minutes away similar sort of laid out the rules.
No clapping.
-- That's it to -- attached to people ever honour that I I don't ever remembers the day that's where they weren't in erupt.
-- our African -- a number of occasions where they really broke out laughing and even.
Walter Mondale laughed at that joke about his youth and inexperience -- that's right.
What do you expect to see what do you want to see there might be two very different questions.
I think that what Mitt Romney's got to do tonight.
-- -- an image and impression of Mitt Romney that's been put out there by the democratic media the democratic surrogate president.
And some of his own and elegant language and what he's got a Danielle.
Is persuade the American people that he is a man and -- intelligence.
And guts and humor.
To be a perfectly acceptable Preston United States this is not an oral exam on economics.
If you -- -- how Reagan won those debates I think Carter was probably more substantial and them.
He won -- -- -- pushing back negative image of Ronald Reagan as a cowboy.
Who basically didn't understand the nation or the world.
Host.
Do you think that that rattled the you always hear that directed at -- Romney is he has the smarts.
Does he have the -- does he have.
-- -- that we have -- the real.
Passion in and to get.
And were angry -- -- and do go to act as president and national media's demeanor is well I would say didn't sealed but gentlemanly and then this is not the time that these.
All done there he's done that in a couple of debates I think he didn't -- Florida debate Newt.
But there's no question -- here so one who it's a tough customer in business.
Who chops off parts of companies in your -- here laying off people in Gaza for a -- I've got no doubt about his toughness at all to make the right decisions the question is can he portray himself.
As -- in the American people as someone.
Who has a measure of compassion about what he's got to do what he's going to do it.
You know a lot of that was at a look at the debate all -- weekend just to size up what's going on.
Jim Blair is just reminding the audience of the final.
A scene in setting the table here when both candidates are going to -- come in first the president and his challenger and they come men and they sort of shake hands.
And away they go the format of this debate that is alive before.
Roughly 615 minute segments all focused on the economy like the domestic issues.
Do you think authorities has -- -- -- going on in Libya and the -- saw a lot of that to say nothing of increasing -- -- in Syria does Mitt Romney turned that around.
Into an economic question whether justifying more -- for the region.
Or questioning.
Bomb our affiliates of reliance on the.
Region.
I think -- Mitt Romney is perfectly.
Suited.
To talk about the American dependency on -- in the Middle East in the Persian gulf.
That this place is on fired that Mr.
President your policies do not seem to be working their burning the American flag.
And we need to be energy independent certainly he can turn that in in -- what I'm most concerned about.
Is that he not if you if you well performance so he's got to get a 98.
In economics to Obama's 95 and you'll always find.
The the argument she's got.
And then again look at how all the debates were won and lost all the way gone back to Nixon Kennedy.
All felt it was a really good one liner that summed up someone court with forever bottle and often it was a gaffe.
Do you think you -- big change.
The outcome now let me if you look back at it 1980 could argued that the momentum was beginning to go when Ronald Reagan's.
Favor.
You could argue 1960 that -- the race was -- people were open to a challenger.
You're Smart system than I'll ever be that but I -- does it does it change the outcome or does it confirm that aren't.
I think -- 1980 debate.
Did not change -- outcome but I think it.
It didn't Reagan won he was moving ahead I think that's -- -- wanted to debate but it gave him ten point victory.
I do think that -- Ford.
1976.
Gaffe about Poland halted his momentum cold I think he had a chance -- was a pretty close race.
That's very -- made the mistake of -- Poland was about their.
A Soviet domination on and on the deal what -- old is it big gap that hurts more or of the zinger that helps more.
I think com.
But the gap hurts more I think Dukakis -- -- that first question up there about his wife possibly being American murdered he gave a disposition on capital punishment.
I think that was -- but again I agree with you I think George H.
W.
Bush was about eight points ahead of and then -- Well you know you've been -- derided do that it confirmed an impression that some that rightly or wrongly that Michael Dukakis.
Was a little too academic a little too distant but little too -- that was then this is now Patrick my friend.
Thank you as always.
Pat Buchanan in Washington or --
