Change The Debate Format

When all is said and done, Tim Russert of Meet the Press will probably have conducted the best debate between Sen. Jim Talent and Claire McCaskill.

Why?

Simply, the format.

After sifting through tons of feedback via e-mail, blog posts and phone calls last night and this morning, I've concluded that a different debate format would serve voters much better.

While our debate was certainly entertaining and at times informative, both candidates ignored many of our specific questions.

With a 1:30/1:30/:30 rebuttal format, we cede control to the candidates. We have less time for more questions.

Just look at the response. From the right and from the left, both sides were frustrated that the candidates didn't answer questions. That was the clear consensus from last night's showdown.

It's not anyone's fault that it didn't happen. It's the format, stupid.

Compare it to Tim Russert's free-flowing conversation. There are no time constraints. He sits both candidates down and questions both of them. Basically, they chat. He throws the questions at them, and if they start to evade, he interrupts, he challenges, he keeps them on track. He encourages them to interact with each other.

We need to establish the Russert format in statewide political debates from here on out. The question is whether the candidates would agree to them.

The Russert conversation format would also be better because it's more entertaining. It keeps your attention. Why? Because it's natural. It's how you may talk in a bar with your buddies about the Cardinals and the Mets. There aren't specific time limits with cue cards. It's an argument. It's a tit for tat. It's fast-paced. It cuts to the chase and cuts OUT the talking points. Find one straight-up, tough journalist, hurling hardballs at both sides, playing devil's advocate and you'll cut out a lot of the political advertisements.

A Russert format is how REAL people talk. They interrupt each other when someone gets off point. They call each other on an untruth. They engage each other. It's livelier, it gets to the heart of the substance and it cuts out the spin.

Whether candidates would ever agree to this format is questionable.

But as journalists, we should push for a better free-flowing format.

Certainly, the voters are calling for it. In fact, after last night, they are begging for it.

A free-flowing format would better serve candidates and voters. And it would be better TV.