Has Any Ticket Ever Won the Presidency Without Winning a Single Debate?

I guess it would depend on how you define "won the debate". It also has to do with WHO said who won the debates, that varies from person to person and group to group. We gave only in the last couple elections had things like instant polls and instant focus groups during debates. George Bush was thought to have soundly lost the last debate in the last election yet he won soundly in the last election.

Yes. Four years ago. George Bush lost all four debates. I strongly believe that he won the re-election because of Americas tradition of never changeing presidents during war time.

I don't think so, but we have never had the women and african americans running either. It is going to be quite interesting.

Annie, I don't have a definitive answer but I did find a website that referred to debate performances & election outcomes a bit. (http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-09-24voz72.cfm) Seems that it does make a bit of difference. George H.W. Bush looking at his watch while Bill Clinton spoke. Al Gore letting out an audible sigh while George W. Bush answered a question (although I know I let out a collective sigh when Bush won). All of the facial expressions & body language make an impression on the voters. McCain with his constant blinking (didn't I hear something like, "We must not blink" somewhere before?) & exasperated expressions could not have helped his campaign. Instead of discussing what he is going to do, he talked about what Obama has done or will not do & what McCain did in the past. Some maverick. It's the same stuff & he just doesn't get it.

I don't know, did they have debates back when George Washington was elected?

I don't know the answer to your question, but I don't imagine many have. What amuses me is how the McCain supporters fool themselves. McCain looked like an uptight nasty old man. No matter what Obama says, McCain trots out the same misrepresentations. He just doesn't get it. It's a real shame that this good man let his handlers ruin his reputation. He's lost my respect completely.

I really don't know. I even went to Fox and checked the polls! lol All of the polls I have seen have Obama winning this debate by a landslide. It would be interesting to know if anyone has ever won the Presidency after losing all the debates, though, wouldn't it? I wonder how we can find out?

I honestly don't know but how did the current Bush do in his debates? I can't picture him winning a debate. Sorry I can't offer any answers good luck. lol I'm sure a conservative will be along soon to tell you either McCain won or that it doesn't matter McCain doesn't have to win to win the election.

Hi annie, I don't believe that anyone has won without winning any debates. But, I'm not totally sure how true that is. So if that runs true to form then that would be just great. From what I saw tonight McCain just looked and sounded so pathetic and weak. I only saw a bit of it and that was quite enough for me! His answer when compared to Bush was so ridiculous that there just wasn't anything left for him to say. He was so on the defensive with just about everything he said and his weakness just came through everytime he opened his mouth. He would have been better off not even showing up or just plain saying nothing at all.