Do debates really matter? [View all]

[octothorpe]

Have you or anyone you've known changed their vote based on a presidential debate? I can see how they can be of use for primaries when a party is narrowing down it's candidates. Let's say Mitt is the person who runs against Obama, is there anything either Romney or Obama could say that would get you to vote against Obama and for Mitt ( I'm assuming most others here will be voting for Obama)? I'm pretty sure there isn't anything Romney could say that will get me to vote for him.. Perhaps I'm missing the overall goals of such debates?