Still, that’s easier said than done. The polling in this race suggests that there isn’t a deep vein of dissatisfaction with Governor Hogan’s leadership among the electorate for Mr. Jealous to tap into. He has to manufacture it, and that’s a big task. This debate was at best a start in that regard, and now Mr. Jealous is left with no more chances to compete with Mr. Hogan on an equal footing. In that sense, Mr. Hogan achieved exactly what he needed to in the debate — he got through it. The only way this encounter will mean anything come November is if Mr. Jealous runs a much stronger campaign in the weeks ahead than he has so far. We suspect that’s a bet the Hogan campaign is willing to make.