The SPD achieved an unprecedented comeback in the federal election campaign. What role did the TV debate between Gerhard Schröder and Angela Merkel play in this? How many voters were swayed by the debate? What arguments are effective in attracting voters? What influence did media coverage of the debate have? These questions are answered in the present volume. The authors conducted a detailed analysis of the impressions that 121 eligible voters in Mainz and Jena had of the candidates during the debate, down to the second. Along with a content analysis of the media coverage and a survey conducted before, immediately after, and a few days after the debate, a comprehensive picture of the perception and impact of TV debates emerges.