Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: I call Baloney

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SALT LAKE CITY — We like to think a debate is an opportunity for the candidates to carve out their positions. A healthy percentage of Americans say they don’t know enough about Kamala Harris and want to learn more from this debate.

That’s what we say. But you never can tell what’s gonna stick at a major debate. The last time Kamala was on the debate stage was here in Utah. All anyone could talk about was the fly buzzing around and sitting on Mike Pence’s perfectly coiffed hair. 

Anyone remember Al Gore vs George Bush the younger? Every time Bush made a point, Al Gore stole the show simply by sighing.

I sigh thinking back to the Obama vs Romney debate. It was the Obama’s wedding anniversary. And how did Romney respond?

“And congratulations to you Mr. President on your anniversary,” he said. “I’m sure this was the most romantic you could imagine — here with me.”

There was the Republican candidate truly being a nice guy. And he lost. 

As did George Bush Senior who lost to Bill Clinton simply because, at one point in the debate, Bush looked at his watch. No one said a word, but the entire country thought “You got someplace else to be buddy?”

Years from now it’s safe to predict that something completely unexpected will be remembered from this debate. And that’s the real reason we watch. It’s not about policies. You can read those on a website.

The reason why 70 million of us sit on the couch and watch this thing is pretty simple. It’s because anything can happen. 

Jeff Caplan is the host of Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News on KSL NewsRadio. Follow him on Facebook and X. 

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