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| US presidential debates by the numbers | US presidential debates by the numbers |
| (30 days later) | |
| The debates are over, done, finito. But before we put them behind us, we want to take a closer look at what the debates as a whole did and did not accomplish. Aggregating data from our series of "debate decoders" and anywhere else, we found interesting tidbits. So here are all four debates – three presidential and one vice-presidential – broken down by the numbers. | The debates are over, done, finito. But before we put them behind us, we want to take a closer look at what the debates as a whole did and did not accomplish. Aggregating data from our series of "debate decoders" and anywhere else, we found interesting tidbits. So here are all four debates – three presidential and one vice-presidential – broken down by the numbers. |
| For those left wondering how the debates could be improved, we recommend this fabulous further reading from the Boston Globe, on how we can get creative with "America's most important political face-off". | For those left wondering how the debates could be improved, we recommend this fabulous further reading from the Boston Globe, on how we can get creative with "America's most important political face-off". |
| Debates by the numbers: | Debates by the numbers: |
| $5m: Cost of preparations for the most expensive debate, held at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. Other debates cost host universities between $1.65m and $4.5m, according to the Denver's ABC News 7 and the Huffington Post | $5m: Cost of preparations for the most expensive debate, held at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. Other debates cost host universities between $1.65m and $4.5m, according to the Denver's ABC News 7 and the Huffington Post |
| 25: total number of lead questions we counted across the four debates. That's about half a million dollars spent per question, for those who may be wondering (a bit less if you count followups) | 25: total number of lead questions we counted across the four debates. That's about half a million dollars spent per question, for those who may be wondering (a bit less if you count followups) |
| Countless: number of pollsters and pundits who said debates don't really matter until Romney outscored Obama in the first presidential debate | Countless: number of pollsters and pundits who said debates don't really matter until Romney outscored Obama in the first presidential debate |
| 4: number of points Romney rose in the polls following the first debate – a "dramatic" bump | 4: number of points Romney rose in the polls following the first debate – a "dramatic" bump |
| 2: moderators who showed their hand by publishing question topics well in advance of the their debate – Jim Lehrer in the first debate on domestic policy and Bob Schieffer in the last on foreign policy. It may be worth noting, too, that no female moderator disclosed topics in advance | 2: moderators who showed their hand by publishing question topics well in advance of the their debate – Jim Lehrer in the first debate on domestic policy and Bob Schieffer in the last on foreign policy. It may be worth noting, too, that no female moderator disclosed topics in advance |
| 1: moderator who pushed strongly for "specifics" on candidates' plans for the future: Martha Raddatz in the vice-presidential debate. Other moderators – notably the two men, Lehrer and Schieffer – took a lighter approach to their moderation | 1: moderator who pushed strongly for "specifics" on candidates' plans for the future: Martha Raddatz in the vice-presidential debate. Other moderators – notably the two men, Lehrer and Schieffer – took a lighter approach to their moderation |
| 15: number of chuckles, cackles and incredulous laughs that escaped from Joe Biden over the course of the VP debate | 15: number of chuckles, cackles and incredulous laughs that escaped from Joe Biden over the course of the VP debate |
| Unknown: how many women were in the binders referenced by Romney in the second presidential debate | Unknown: how many women were in the binders referenced by Romney in the second presidential debate |
| 11: number of citizens cherry-picked by moderator Candy Crowley who got to ask their own question during the one town hall-style debate | 11: number of citizens cherry-picked by moderator Candy Crowley who got to ask their own question during the one town hall-style debate |
| 1: just one live fact-check by Candy Crowley. After being called on by Obama, she corrected Romney's assertion that the president hadn't used the word "terror" in his initial reaction to attacks in Libya – which the GOP called a contentious move | 1: just one live fact-check by Candy Crowley. After being called on by Obama, she corrected Romney's assertion that the president hadn't used the word "terror" in his initial reaction to attacks in Libya – which the GOP called a contentious move |
| 20: countries mentioned in the final debate on foreign policy by the candidates and moderator. Twelve of those 20 were in the Middle East and North Africa, by the way, and none were in Latin America – a rather limited world view | 20: countries mentioned in the final debate on foreign policy by the candidates and moderator. Twelve of those 20 were in the Middle East and North Africa, by the way, and none were in Latin America – a rather limited world view |
| 112: number of attacks the presidential candidates launched against each other over three debates. Obama just edged Romney out, with 58 total attacks to Romney's 54. It's worth pointing out there's a positive correlation between the number of attacks and the candidate declared the victor online | 112: number of attacks the presidential candidates launched against each other over three debates. Obama just edged Romney out, with 58 total attacks to Romney's 54. It's worth pointing out there's a positive correlation between the number of attacks and the candidate declared the victor online |
| 2 out of 3: number of debates during which Romney explicitly said he'd "get rid of Obamacare" – which happens to be one of his favorite lines on the campaign trail | 2 out of 3: number of debates during which Romney explicitly said he'd "get rid of Obamacare" – which happens to be one of his favorite lines on the campaign trail |
| 7: number of times Romney seemed to agree with Obama in the final debate on foreign policy (using words like "agree" and "concur," and phrases like "I want to underscore the same point the president made") | 7: number of times Romney seemed to agree with Obama in the final debate on foreign policy (using words like "agree" and "concur," and phrases like "I want to underscore the same point the president made") |
| 122: number of interruptions during the town hall debate – that's "1.4 interruptions per minute during the 90-minute debate." It's also a breach of debate rules, though certainly not the only one | 122: number of interruptions during the town hall debate – that's "1.4 interruptions per minute during the 90-minute debate." It's also a breach of debate rules, though certainly not the only one |
| 16 to 15: respectively, the number of times Joe Biden and Paul Ryan played "wingman" to their running mates by talking up presidential plans, referring to Obama's and Romney's résumés and defending their man | 16 to 15: respectively, the number of times Joe Biden and Paul Ryan played "wingman" to their running mates by talking up presidential plans, referring to Obama's and Romney's résumés and defending their man |
| 48: times the president invoked his accomplishments from the last four years. In comparison, Romney talked about his own résumé 13 times in all | 48: times the president invoked his accomplishments from the last four years. In comparison, Romney talked about his own résumé 13 times in all |
| 42: number promises and plans for the future Romney delivered over four debates. Obama was more reserved, offering 32 plans and promises total | 42: number promises and plans for the future Romney delivered over four debates. Obama was more reserved, offering 32 plans and promises total |
| 1 each: the number of times the issues of immigration, equal pay, abortion and gun rights were asked about over four debates | 1 each: the number of times the issues of immigration, equal pay, abortion and gun rights were asked about over four debates |
| 0: the number of times other important issues, like climate change, gay rights and the war on drugs, were asked over four debates | 0: the number of times other important issues, like climate change, gay rights and the war on drugs, were asked over four debates |
| 3: memes that came out of the presidential debates – Big Bird, binders and bayonets | 3: memes that came out of the presidential debates – Big Bird, binders and bayonets |
| 2: female moderators in this year's debate cycle – Martha Raddatz hosting the VP debate and Candy Crowley manning (so to speak) the presidential town hall. This was the first time a woman moderated a presidential debate in 20 years, but the first time the moderator spots were equally distributed between women and men. An achievement – and an embarrassment, considering it's 2012 | 2: female moderators in this year's debate cycle – Martha Raddatz hosting the VP debate and Candy Crowley manning (so to speak) the presidential town hall. This was the first time a woman moderated a presidential debate in 20 years, but the first time the moderator spots were equally distributed between women and men. An achievement – and an embarrassment, considering it's 2012 |
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