Dr. Laura Wilson Talks Sec. of State Debate Tonight

Nigel Thomas (0:00)

The Hammer and Nigel Show, hello. My name is Nigel Jason Hammer, right over there with a very special guest on the hotline.

Jason Hammer (0:07)

Dr. Laura Wilson from the University of Indianapolis, Professor of Political Science. She is the moderator of tonight's big Secretary of State Debate. And Laura, Nigel and I were just wondering, how do you get ready for that? Are you doing jumping jacks? Are you doing crunches? Is it like Rocky getting ready to go into the ring to take on Drago here?

Laura Merrifield Wilson (0:29)

You know, I would probably be better off if I did that, but I haven't done a jumping jack in so long.

There is a lot of preparation. I think certainly thinking through the questions that are submitted to us from voters. And that's one of the things that the Indian Debate Commission does. I really appreciate. We ask for voter submitted questions. The balance of trying to cover everything that's important. And, you know, admittedly, I'm an academic, I think a lot of it's important, but we only have so much time. But also to be responsive and thoughtful for what voters want to hear. I think those are probably the biggest things. And then, of course, when it's a televised debate, and this is always tricky because it's different from leading a classroom, but you have a hard start, a hard end. And for me, I think this is true in life. I'm very egalitarian. But especially as a moderator, you want to be fair to all, right? I want to be equitable. I want to make sure everyone gets what they want, what they need. And that's true for candidates, but that's also true for voters.

Nigel Thomas (1:29)

I was going to say, it can't be lost on you though, that this seems like a very contentious race. Oh, absolutely. And are you prepared for what you're going to have to do in terms of keeping them, like reeling everything in? You know what I mean?

Laura Merrifield Wilson (1:47)

Yeah, no, absolutely. It's one of those things, I think you prepare for the worst and you hope for the best. And not that it's the worst, right? It's great. They're campaigning. I mean, yeah, I am prepared making sure we have rebuttals. They're not unlimited. I do have some level of authority in saying, you know what, we're not going to be able to use rebuttals. What I hope is that the candidates are responsive, reaching out to the voters, responding to what the voters want. And one of the beauties, I think the best thing about a debate is like, yes, they get to rebut to each other. They get to talk and argue with another. If I do a good job as a moderator, you barely notice my presence, but I'm able to cultivate that conversation and move us on to the next step. So it doesn't just evolve into a shouting match or a brawl entirely or focus on one or two people, but we really cover a lot of ground, but also in an in-depth way, keeping it obviously informational and educational, but I hope engaging and informative for the voters.

Jason Hammer (2:48)

And you can hear that debate tonight, at 7 o'clock right here at 93 WIBC, also on television at WFYI.

Dr. Laura Wilson is the moderator for it tonight. And I'm glad you bring up how you don't want to be the story, because we've all seen debates in the past where you can clearly tell the moderator is either tipping their hand one way or the other, or they want to be part of the story. I almost feel, Dr. Laura, and I know you're a sports fan, you can relate to this. You're almost like an umpire. Like if you're doing a good job, we don't notice you and nobody notices your name. But if you decide to put yourself in the mix, now you're the front page story.

Laura Merrifield Wilson (3:32)

Yes, exactly. And I oftentimes liken myself to a referee or an official, not just in moderating, but in general in politics, right? Like if I have a preferred team, there's no way I can give an honest, accurate assessment. Much like in college football, I very much have a preferred team. I want Alabama to win every single time. I have a bias and I don't want it to be a fair game. I don't want it to be competitive or close.

Here, though, I have opposite views and I think the best part about the opportunity to moderate a debate, but also the real responsibility is making sure that voters hear from all candidates, that they're answering the questions they had. That from my perspective, it's just navigating the individuals, covering the questions as the person who gets to be the megaphone for voters, if you will, and making sure that we're really earnest to be the democratic spirit, lowercase d, right? That everyone has the opportunity, and it's not in favor or against any one person, but truly the opportunity to share ideas, to argue, to deliberate, and then allow the voters to decide who they want to serve in this role.