A Model for Debates
نویسنده
چکیده
In anticipation of the US Presidential debate on Monday, September 26, 2016, let’s look at a mathematical model for debates, developed by Dickson, Hafer and Landa [1]. We begin by asking what is the purpose of debates? From the point of view of each candidate, it is, of course, to convince listeners to vote for him/her. Thus we should concentrate on listeners who have not yet decided for whom to vote. Why might they have not yet decided? There are at least two possible reasons: (1) a listener does not (yet) know for what each candidate stands, and (2) a listener does not (yet) know where s/he stands. This latter possibility perhaps sounds strange, so here’s an example from the current campaign:
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