Disappearing midterm election debates: Democrats dodging their opponents this year

Voters used to be able to count on debates to insert some policy discussion fiber into campaigns that were often filled with feel-good TV ads and stunts, the equivalent of campaign junk food.

But debates are slowly fading away, the victim of our polarized politics and the belief of many campaign consultants that turning out their respective party’s base is all that matters.  

A Brookings Institute study reports that as recently as 2010, the five most competitive Senate races had SEVENTEEN debates. This year there will be only seven, and the trend to early and mail-in voting will mean several will take place after large numbers of people have already voted. Debates can’t influence someone who’s sent in their ballot.