“Debates between candidates don’t matter anymore.”

Fewer than half of this year’s Senate races will have a debate, and 21 of 36 governor’s races won’t have one either, according to an ABC News analysis. Candidates in Ohio, Texas, Florida, and Arizona have turned debates down, giving reasons that range from “political theater” to “you can’t debate a liar.” Defenders say debates are one of the few unscripted chances to see how a candidate handles pressure. Critics say few voters watch and the clips matter more than the full debate. The question is whether debates still matter in the age of viral clips, with the midterms on Nov. 3.

Brett O’Donnell, Republican debate-prep consultant (agrees): “We live in a world where people get impatient after watching something for 15 seconds online. How many people will actually watch an hour-long debate?” Joan Vennochi, Boston Globe columnist (middle): “I don’t think debates change very many votes. Instead, they reinforce perceptions in a way that allows people to stick with their basic ideology and gut feelings about a candidate.” Abdallah Fayyad, Boston Globe writer (disagrees): “Refusing to participate in a debate is refusing to do a vital part of the job.”