There have been several primary debates in the past that have centered on unpopular candidates. Most recently, the Republican debates during the 2016 primary season were notable for featuring a range of candidates who were seen as either controversial or unpopular. The same was true for the Democratic debates that year. There have also been several other primary debates throughout history where unpopular candidates were featured, including the 1976 Republican primary debate featuring incumbent President Gerald Ford and former California Governor Ronald Reagan, as well as the 1984 Democratic primary debate featuring Senators Walter Mondale and Gary Hart.
