BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — Dr. Robert Rupp, political science professor at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon will be one of the anticipated 100 Million people who tune in to watch or hear tonight’s first debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Few presidential debates have received so much hype, but Rupp, speaking on MetroNews Talkline Monday, said nothing in this campaign has been normal.
“This election is an aberration. All the lecturers, all the textbooks, all of the analysts have been wrong. The question is do we throw out all the old standard rules?” said Rupp. “Trump has already thrown away many, will it continue?”
There would appear to be very high stakes with only three debates for president and one vice-Presidential debate before election day. Rupp compared it to the 1980 debate between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan where Carter spent weeks degrading the fitness of Reagan to be president. However, when placed side by side, it shattered perceptions. He’s unsure if that will happen tonight, but the anticipation is similar.
“Ninety percent of all debates on any political level are dull,” said Rupp. “They don’t want to make a mistake so don’t be surprised with all that hype if we don’t have a dull debate.”
Whether it’s a fireworks show or a yawner Rupp doubted the outcome would have much impact either way for either candidate.
“The debate will confirm what’s going on and not convert anyone,” he said. “As far as one debate or one mistake making a difference, that’s hopefully not the way voters make up their mind. We’re down to 7 percent undecided, 93 percent have made up their mind and 50 percent of them made it up last year.”
Rupp said what the undecided voters will be watching for is which candidate appears most confident and most at ease being in charge.
“They’re going to look at the person and say, ‘Who looks confident?'”