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I mentioned a few weeks ago that Joe Biden had shown in the June debate that he was incapable of running a national presidential campaign again. Mr. Biden eventually came to the same conclusion and withdrew from the race.

This week there was another debate and it was clear, regardless of who you preferred, that we are now once again in a promising campaign for the highest office in our country. The contest has begun.

Frankly, it would be an exaggeration to actually call what we saw a “debate.” It was more of a verbal boxing match than a thorough analysis of the issues facing the country. The country knew what to expect from former President Trump. What we didn't know was how Vice President Harris would handle the pressure and scrutiny.

I think it's safe to say that she did quite well in that regard. She stood her ground with the former president. She stood her ground and let him be himself.

Since the first televised presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy, it has been clear that these so-called “debates” are really more of a competition of merit than anything else. Although the issues were discussed more thoroughly in that first debate, Kennedy was considered the so-called “winner” because he presented his views more sharply and eloquently. Nixon seemed tired and not as relaxed as Kennedy.

In other words, one candidate performed better than the other.

Another one I remember was between President Reagan and former Vice President Mondale. The press and pundits had played up the issue of President Reagan's age compared to that of the younger Mr. Mondale. President Reagan made that clear in one sentence, promising at the beginning of the debate that he would not “make Mr. Mondale's age an issue in this election.” Everyone laughed, and afterward Ronald Reagan was handily re-elected.

However, all of this, in my opinion, points to an obvious weakness in our political system. Every four years, we elect our presidents from a very small group – usually just two people – who decide who will lead our executive branch.

One advantage I see in other democracies – like most countries in Europe – is that the country's political leader emerges after many years in parliament, where he can be scrutinized and evaluated by his peers. In our country, you can come out of nowhere with a slogan and a lot of money and no political experience and become President of the United States.

But our system is what it is. The Constitution established it that way, and so every four years these contests come back. To “protect” the process and secure the support of the smaller states, the Constitutional Convention also established the mechanism of the Electoral College. Although this seems archaic today and can allow a candidate with fewer votes to win the presidency – unless it is changed by a constitutional amendment (which is not easy), the Electoral College is likely to be with us for many years to come.

So, the election campaign has now begun with all the hype and political advertising that goes with it. Sit back and “enjoy” it – or at least endure it. In less than two months, it will be over!

Rolland Kidder is a resident of Stow.