Just four years ago, certainly eight years ago, and for decades before that, when a primary debate was broadcast on a major network, it was important. It commanded attention. The MSM treated it as their ROLE to constrict and script the event for what THEY thought was best for us, but mostly for what they felt was best for THEM.
Now, they are nearly irrelevant and their debates are a side show.
Their ONLY relevance is as a contrast to Trump and to independent media.
(Just Human)
When I heard Trump skipped a debate in the 2016 election, I thought, "Gosh, I hope that doesn't hurt him in the polls."
I was a lot more naive then.