This Debate Wasn’t “The One”, But Johnny Mac Did Good  No Debate
Ever Is "The One"!  A mythology has grown up about presidential
debates that needs to be debunked. Nixon didn’t lose the 1960
election because of a five o’clock shadow. Reagan didn’t nail
1980 with “there you go again”. Al Gore didn’t blow 2000 by
treading on GWB’s space or showing up with the orange glop
makeup.  Debates are about impressions and revelations about the
personae. Thus, they are important, but only as one more
indicator of that complex interplay between personalities and
issues which actually determines the outcome. Polls had Carter
and Reagan neck-and-neck long after their famous debate. Only in
the last few days was there a decisive movement to Reagan- the
electorate’s gut reaction to the prospect of four more years of
Carter’s leadership, killer rabbits, Iran, hostages, stagflation
and all the rest. The other two elections remained close because
the respective VP’s represented highly popular administrations
which were nonethele