MU Professor Expects Little Information To Come From Presidential Debates

A communications professor expects a lot of people to tune in to the presidential debate Thursday evening, but worries that the format will keep them from getting much from it. President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry debate on the campus of the University of Miami. University of Missouri Assistant Communications Professor Mitchell McKinney notes the two campaigns agreed to very strict time limits for answers and rebuttal. McKinney says the arguments between the two campaigns about time-limits, accomodations, questions, inter-action with panelists and citizens even prior approval to the pen and pad used to take notes during the debates are just the latest in a series of developments over the years campaigns use to reduce the risks to their candidates. The second will be held next Friday at Washington University in St. Louis. The final debate will be held in Arizona.