Expect 'more vicious fireworks in Vegas,' expert says of final 2016 presidential debate

LAWRENCE – The third and final presidential debate of the 2016 campaign is set for Wednesday night in Las Vegas, and the stakes could not be higher.

Brett Bricker, associate director of the University of Kansas debate program and assistant specialist of communication studies, is available to speak with media before or after the debate, addressing the candidates’ preparation and performance, their tactics, truthfulness, how it compared with the first two debates and other topics. 

“The first two debates offered glimpses into the strategies and positions of both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump,” Bricker said. “The third debate shifts back to a moderator-directed format, with six 15-minute segments covering immigration, debt, the Supreme Court, the economy, immigration and foreign policy. With Trump continuing to plummet in the polls, and with his recent shift to desperate criticisms of the democratic process, expect more vicious fireworks in Vegas.”

In addition to his work with KU’s debate team, Bricker is a contributing author to the new book “Debating the Donald.” The book takes a critical look at Donald Trump’s performance in the GOP primary debates. Authors from many of the nation’s top debate programs analyzed his performance, noted lessons learned from each and prepared readers for the presidential debates. Bricker authored a chapter on Trump’s performance in the eighth GOP debate held in Manchester, New Hampshire, and noted Trump’s willingness to attack the debate audience, an uncommon tactic.

To schedule an in-person or phone interview with Bricker, contact Rick Hellman at 785-864-8852 or email rick_hellman@ku.edu.