[Servant of the Cross]

I like this concept ... (not sure how you’d do it though)

[jazusamo]

It’d sure narrow the field down when a party has two bakers dozens running for the nomination.

[alloysteel]

Start with random pair-offs of the sixteen (or 21, or whatever), and do a double-elimination one-on-one debate
on successive nights until the field is pared to a manageable number (say, six or eight), then bring back some which had done fairly well, and replace those who had fumbled in the multiple debates with those who had shown satisfactory performance, but not good enough to win in the one-on-one.

[conservativejoy]

The debate dilemma is easily solved. Have simultaneous debates with no more than five to a stage, same questions, then broadcast them consecutively.