Do Political Conventions Really Get the Undecided Vote?

Millions of Americans tuned in to watch the political conventions these past two weeks, but are the conventions really getting that undecided voter?

First it was the Republicans, as they toasted the party`s nominees of Mitt Romney and running mate Paul Ryan in Florida.

Then it was the Democrats in North Carolina as they rallied to make President Barack Obama Commander-in-Chief for four more years.

Sergeant Dawkins of Albrightsville has been watching both the conventions.

While she is an Obama supporter, she was impressed with one speaker on the Republican side.

“Mitt Romney`s wife,” said Dawkins. “I feel that she did good, talking about her husband and family.”

That`s not the sentiment for Wayne Stockoe who feels the conventions are nothing but hot air.

“Promises, promises,” said Stockoe. “Obama talked really good the last time he was running but a lot of those promises didn`t come true.”

Dr. Brian Carso, a professor at Misericordia University, worked at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City.

He said making a convention successful is all about show business in order to get those watching at home.

“The conventions now are choreographed as if they were the Oscars. They`re really made for TV. So the delegates are there, they`re having a lot of fun, they provide an audience,” said Carso.

Still, Carso said getting that undecided voter through a convention is tricky since many watching the conventions have already made up their mind.

“The people that watch conventions today are people who are already invested in the political process, who have already decided who they are going to vote for,” said Carso.

Carso said the bigger event is when the candidates square off against each other, something Gary Bowman of Berwick agrees with.

“What`s more important is when they get to debating and we get to hear exactly what they`re going to do at that point, how they plan on moving forward,” said Bowman.

The presidential candidates are scheduled for three debates starting October 3.