Politics

Wednesday Debate More Interrupty than Others

George Mason University actually counted. Shall we debate the value of college?

|

No, it wasn't your imagination. And it wasn't moderator Jim Lehrer's fault either.

The two presidential candidates in Wednesday night's debate were significantly more aggressive and interrupting than in the recent past, according to a study released Friday by George Mason University's Center for Media and Public Affairs.

President Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney cut off Lehrer 30 times during the 90-minute debate — three times as often as Obama and his then-rival Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) did in their first debate in 2008.