Fifteen percent (15%) of American adults say that Presidential debates are exciting. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 58% say they are boring. Sixty-three percent (63%) of men and 54% of women find the debates boring.

Thirty percent (30%) say that the debates are informative while 50% say they are useless. Older Americans are more likely to find the debates useless than younger adults.

Ratings show that the most recent debate attracted 2.6 million viewers, a very small percentage of the electorate. A Rasmussen Reports analysis suggested that the debates may have little impact and that “only a major gaffe or startling policy pronouncement will break through the news clutter and impact the general public’s view of the race.”

Twenty-two percent (22%) say that debates are Very Important in terms of determining how they will vote. Another 38% say the debates are Somewhat Important. During Election 2004, the debates between President George W. Bush and Democratic nominee John F. Kerry had little impact. Following the first debate when the President did not do well, there was virtually no change in the candidate preference polls. However, Republicans simply decided that debates weren’t that important in determining their vote.

Thirty-three percent (33%) say there are too many debates while 30% say there are not enough. Twenty-two percent (22%) say the number is about right while 15% are not sure.

The nation’s youngest adults, those under 30, are more likely than their elders to find debates exciting (22%) and Very Important to their voting decision (33%).

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Republicans find the Presidential debates boring along with 53% of Democrats and 54% of those not affiliated with either major party.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Democrats say that the debates are informative while 43% say they are useless. Republicans, by a 59% to 23% margin, say that the debates are useless.

Fifty percent (50%) of those not affiliated with either major party say the debates are useless. Twenty-four percent (24%) of unaffiliateds say they are informative.

Another Rasmussen Reports survey found that Americans are more receptive to a political candidate identified as progressive rather than liberal. Being compared to Ronald Reagan is better than being called a conservative.

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