Debate, Town Halls, & More

By: Steph Attias

I’d always wanted to see a candidate speak in person, so being Iowa in January of a presidential election year was the perfect place for me to go. In the past five days, I’ve heard presidential candidates Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg speak at town halls. Each event has its own flair and style. Warren’s event felt intimate as it was packed with people in an elementary school gym, similar to the one in my hometown. Buttigieg’s event had a more high end, celebrity feeling with him on stage and hundreds of people around him standing on the floor. Sanders’ and Klobuchar’s events had what felt like fewer people and more room in the event space. However, each of these town halls gave me the true Iowa retail politics experience. Each speaker made a case for their candidacy and for the most part, I walked out feeling like they could be a candidate I would support in the general election. For now, however, my heart is still set on supporting Pete Buttigieg in the primary.

However, it’s important to note in a town hall there is a lack of push back as the candidate has a large amount of control over the setting. They choose the venue, set up, and sometimes even the questions asked. However, there are still elements of unpredictability, especially from a candidate who takes random audience questions and other situational factors.  For example, at Buttigieg’s town hall there was an unexpected medical emergency, a Black Lives Matter protest, and a woman with a free Palestine sign. 

Yet, as a contrast, primary debates are not in the candidate’s control. They need certain funding and polling requirements to get in, they don’t know the questions in advance, and are unable to fully control their speaking time, as the moderators choose who to call on, and on top of all of this, the event is live. In this setting, they are also vulnerable to attack from other candidates and push back from the moderators. While these candidates prepare vigorously for debates, there is still the ability for a surprise. What I’m looking most forward to in the debate tonight is the push back from other candidates and moderators asking pointed questions. In this setting flaws and issues in other candidate’s plans which are not mentioned in their respective town halls are highlighted and the candidates have the opportunity to explain and clarify. I’m so excited to be attending the debate tonight and experience this event in person!