Pollster Scott Rasmussen today said tonight's cutting-edge CNN/YouTube debate will not affect any Democratic candidate's standing in the race for nomination.

"As the Democratic Presidential candidates gather for yet another debate— this time in Charleston, South Carolina —some may be wondering if it's worth the effort. This is the fourth candidate debate of the season and nothing has changed since the first one ended. In fact, polling has shown an incredibly stable race," Rasmussen said in an analysis released today.

Rasmussen explains:

The debates have had little impact partly because there have been few surprises and largely because only hard-core political junkies are watching. Those watching the debates are also following news of the campaigns in other forums as well. Only a major gaffe or startling policy pronouncement will break through the news clutter and impact the general public's view of the race.

But not everyone agrees with his commentary previewing tonight's debate.

Jeff Jarvis, who writes at BuzzMachine and PrezVid, disagreed with Rasmussen and gave three reasons why the debate is important for Americans.

He said:

"The YouTube debates could fundamentally change the dynamics of politics in America, giving a voice to the people, letting us be heard by the powerful and the public, enabling us to coalesce around our interests and needs, and even teaching reporters who are supposed to ask questions in our stead how they should really do it.

The debates could also demonstrate that democracy is in good hands, that we care, we are smart, we are informed. Too often, that's not the PR we, the people, get. We're masses who don't know and don't give a [expletive deleted]. But that's not the people you see in the vast majority of YouTube's 2,000-plus debate questions.

Finally, the debates could begin to change the relationship between candidates and voters. Campaigns always have been and still are all about control, about handing down a message, about the appearance of listening."

Here's the video YouTube has been using to solicit videos from users.

For tonight's Democratic debate, 2,989 videos have been submitted with videos asking about a wide array of topics -- from the future of nuclear power in America to high college tuition fees.

-- Brandon Leonard, intern, The Washington Times