This is a really good column on my biggest criticism of the press.
It seems to me that the media over-learned the lesson of the JFK-Nixon debate.
(Nixon was smarter and impressed radio listeners, but looked awful on camera - so TV viewers vastly preferred JFK)
The press seems so obsessed with anticipating the reactions of low-information voters that they shirk their duty to inform voters.
I wish these institutions had no audience feedback whatsoever for debates. I dislike polls generally, but I abhor them during a debate. You're not covering the audience - you're covering the politicians.