Politicians love to talk. Lucky for you, you'll get to put all your public-speaking tools to good use in October's presidential debates.

The debates are an important part of the campaign. They give candidates an opportunity to talk about issues—something that is often ignored in all the media hoopla. The debates allow for an intelligent discussion on policy: You get to promote your ideas while calling out your opponent on his or hers. You'll be exposed to a huge national audience, and unlike advertisements, you don't have to pay a dime to get your message out. Debates are one of the few opportunities voters have to see the candidates and their ideas side by side. The debates can help boost the confidence of your supporters, and solidify their support for you. And in some instances, you might be able to convince some undecided voters to come over to your side.

In 2000, George W. Bush and Al Gore faced off in three debates, each with its own format. The first was a traditional debate, where the candidates stood at podiums and answered questions asked by a moderator. The second debate was more informal, and featured the two candidates sitting at a table, discussing issues with the moderator. The final format, popularized by President Bill Clinton in the 1992 election, was the townhall debate, in which undecided voters posed questions to the candidates. There's no doubt that you'll need to do a lot of preparation before the debates. Most candidates work for months with their staffs, holding mock debates to get ready for any type of question they might encounter.

In winning the debates though, you need presentation in addition to preparation. Your clothes, posture, tone, and mannerisms will be on display for the world to see. "Some of it's contrived show business," President George Bush Sr. said. "There's a certain artificiality to it, [a] lack of spontaneity to it."

But if Bush had paid more attention to the "show business" angle, he might have won the 1992 debates. During the debates, Bush checked his watch repeatedly, signaling to voters he was impatient and bored with the proceedings. Similarly, in 2000, many took Al Gore's sighs and headshakes during George W. Bush's responses as signs of rudeness and immaturity. The most famous "image problem" came in the first televised presidential debate in 1960, between future Presidents John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Nixon wore drab clothing and appeared sweaty and unshaven to viewers at home. When they compared him to the cool, polished, and confident Kennedy, most viewers considered Nixon the loser of the debate. But those who only heard the debates on the radio thought Nixon had the most convincing arguments.

The debate over the 1960 debate shows just how important a candidate's appearance is in the current age of mass media. As a candidate, you need to know your stuff, but also how to show it.

-Matt Warshauer