Top 10 Times Politicians Were Owned in Presidential Debates

1984
Throughout his reelection campaign, Ronald Reagan was comfortably ahead, leading Democratic challenger Walter Mondale by several points in the polls. However, that lead wobbled ever so slightly after their first debate when Reagan’s tired and confused performance raised concerns about his age. At their second debate, journalist Henry Trewhitt directly asked if the president was too old to continue the job. In classic Reagan fashion, he flipped the script, turning it into a playful jab at Mondale’s relative youth and inexperience. The witty comeback not only made the audience, as well as his opponent, laugh, it also demolished any momentum Mondale had gained. Even Mondale acknowledged it was the moment he knew Reagan had the election in the bag.

2004
Vice presidential debates rarely ever grab headlines. Well, unless they come with sick burns like this one. At the 2004 VP debate, Democratic candidate John Edwards kept hammering about Dick Cheney’s ties to Halliburton, Cheney’s former company which profited from the Iraq War. In response, the Vice President brought up Edwards’ abysmal attendance record in the Senate, criticizing him for missing numerous meetings and key votes. To further drive home his point, Cheney then claimed that this debate was actually the first time he had met Edwards, despite his role presiding over the Senate as VP. Edwards tried to shift the heat onto Cheney’s own voting record in the House, but all anyone remembers is the first strike.

2020
The first 2020 presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden was so chaotic that one commentator referred to it as “a hot mess, inside a dumpster fire, inside a train wreck.” Most of that chaos came from Trump, who kept interrupting, shouting and throwing insults, while moderator Chris Wallace struggled to maintain order. At one point, Biden was asked a question about the Supreme Court, but he barely got a word in before Trump cut him off yet again. This prompted Biden to deliver the highlight of the night, asking Trump to shut it. That spirit of interruptions carried into the VP debate the following week, when Mike Pence tried talking over Kamala Harris, but she was having none of it.

2012
Foreign policy took center stage in the 2012 presidential election. While Mitt Romney tried to cast President Barack Obama as cutting down military spending, Obama countered by portraying Romney’s views as relics of the past. This clash came to life in the third debate when Romney claimed that the U.S. Navy had fewer ships than a century ago. Obama quickly latched onto this, pointing out that technology had evolved significantly. He then twisted the knife in by schooling Romney on aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines. By the end of the night, the phrase “horses and bayonets” was trending on social media. This move echoed Obama’s 2008 tactic, when he shifted the focus from his relative foreign policy inexperience to John McCain’s temperament.

1980
Just one week before election day, Jimmy Carter faced off against Republican challenger Ronald Reagan in their only debate of the season. For Carter, who was very unpopular at the time, it was a last-ditch effort to sway undecided voters. While he detailed his policy ideas, Reagan effortlessly stole the spotlight with charm and a few well-timed zingers. The standout moment came when Carter took Reagan to task for opposing Medicare in the past. But instead of getting defensive, Reagan remained calm and completely derailed all of Carter’s criticisms with one unforgettable line. That was all anybody remembered from the debate. One week later, Reagan won the election in a landslide.

2020
Following his late entry into the 2020 race for the Democratic Party nomination, Mike Bloomberg stepped onto the debate stage for the first time in round nine. If anyone had a bone to pick with his candidacy, it was Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. Warren wasted no time tearing into Bloomberg, calling out his history of sexual harassment allegations and his support of apparently racist policing tactics during his time as New York City’s mayor. She then added insult to injury by comparing Bloomberg to Donald Trump, branding them both as “arrogant billionaire[s]”. Although other candidates also took shots at Bloomberg, Warren’s punches landed the hardest. Less than a month later, he quietly bowed out of the race.

2016
Presidential debates used to be somewhat civil, even though candidates would throw the occasional subtle jab. However, the emergence of Donald Trump in 2015 changed the game. The eventual Republican nominee ushered in an era of interruptions, name-calling and exchanges reminiscent of a schoolyard fight. Case in point, this moment from the third debate between him and Hillary Clinton. After claiming that Russian president Vladimir Putin had no respect for Clinton, the former Secretary of State fired back with a sharp retort, calling Trump Putin’s puppet. This remark clearly struck a nerve, leading Trump to spiral into a series of comebacks that didn’t quite land the way he hoped.

1984
During the 1984 Democratic presidential primaries, Senator Gary Hart enjoyed a rise in the polls, thanks in part to his catchy slogan “new ideas.” This phrase resurfaced during a debate, when Hart tried to highlight the contrast between his policies and those of his main rival, former Vice President Walter Mondale. Mondale, however, wasn’t having it. He delivered a quick comeback, borrowing a line from a popular Wendy’s ad to poke fun at Hart’s so-called “new ideas.” This remark perfectly captured the criticism Hart had been facing all along, that his policies were flashy, but lacked substance. In the end, Mondale was able to raise enough doubt to retake the lead over Hart and clinch the Democratic nomination.

2016
Politicians often slip into stump speeches and well-rehearsed talking points during campaigns, but for Florida Senator Marco Rubio, this habit led to a major misstep. In a 2016 Republican primary debate, Rubio confidently delivered a polished line criticizing Barack Obama for “know[ing] exactly what he’s doing.” There was just one issue. He repeated that same line again, and again, and again. While grilling Rubio for lacking executive experience and labeling him an out-of-touch Washington insider, Chris Christie called out the rehearsed script. Then, in a moment of pure irony, Rubio responded with the exact same line. Christie didn’t even miss a beat, he jumped back in to point out the robotic response, leaving Rubio visibly rattled.

1988
These days, the name Lloyd Bentsen might not ring any bells for most people. But for those who do remember him, it’s likely because of the legendary remark he made during the 1988 vice presidential debate. At 41, Bentsen’s opponent, Dan Quayle, was seen as young and inexperienced, a point that kept popping up during the campaign, and of course, in the debate. Quayle tried to brush off the criticisms by comparing his Congressional experience with that of President John F. Kennedy. Huge mistake! Bentsen, who actually served with Kennedy in Congress, took issue with this comparison and delivered the now-famous verbal smackdown. Although Quayle ultimately became vice president, that line haunted him for years.

Do you watch presidential debates? What has been your most unforgettable moment over the years? Let us know in the comments below.