Should the number of presidential primary debates be limited to three for each party?

No

3 of 7

by Katherine Harms

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The electoral process needs to find its own way in regard to debates, advertising and any other element of the campaign process. Voters need the opportuntity to meet the candidates. They need to be able to ask questions about issues that matter to them. Regulation of campaigns should err in the direction of less, not more.

It is certainly possible to have too much campaign activity for my tastes, but I don't fear it enough to need to regulate it. I think the candidates learn what works and what doesn't as they go through the process. The innovation of web access to the candidates is a good thing, but it doesn't change the fact that seeing and hearing the candidates is important to voters.

I think we should let candidates and political parties sink or swim without too much regulatory intervention. We all need to be assured that campaigns are honest with us, and the amount of money floating around during elections demands regulation that assures accountability. We don't want our candidates purchased by high-volume contributors. Yet excessive regulation will make it more expensive to conduct campaigns. Somebody has to keep all the required records and do the required reporting.

Candidates must tell us what they stand for, and more regulations won't help us learn that vital truth.

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