With all of the hype, I suspect this year’s debates will have a much larger than usual audience. Several of the networks will be carrying the debates live. If Hillary has a prolonged coughing spell like she did in Cleveland, what are they going to do? Even if they decide to cut away to a commercial or go “back to the studio” until she can compose herself, the public will know what they saw. If she has a couple of coughing spells during the course of the evening, it will look that much worse. What are they going to say when they have to unexpectedly “go back to the studio” a second or third time? Her handlers had better pump her up with whatever they can to get her through the evening, otherwise, it could be a disastrous night for Hillary.
If Hillary has a coughing fit or faints during the debate the answer the simple—the networks shut off the feed and replace it with “Brokeback Mountain” reruns. :-)