July 4th - Opportunity Missed/ Previewing the Fall Debates
Alan Schroeder, author of published Presidential Debates: Fifty Years of High-Risk TV, an informed observer of presidential debates, often in theater where he has absorbed the political atmospherics of the last several Presidential Debates, has written a reasoned analysis on the Columbia University Press Blog , previewing what to expect in fall Commission of Presidential Debate events.
Professor Schroeder weaves his analysis around the missed opportunity for a July 4th debate between McCain and Obama and why the demands of presidential debates are likely to thwart real innovations in the fall. He hints that this years unconventional campaigns had the hope for unconventional debates, but don't hold your breadth.
Schroeder writes:
By traditional metrics, the McCain camp was probably accurate in its assumption of low viewership on the Fourth of July. But the unorthodox nature of this year's presidential campaign challenges that expectation. A holiday debate would undoubtedly have generated a high degree of media hype, drawing an audience unable to resist the lure of live political theater. . .
Click for the
full article.
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: CPD, formats, townhall debates, McCain, Obama, negotiations
The Debating Spirit of 1963
[editor's note, by Ross Smith] promoted to front page and time stamp updated to kick this to the top -- Ross
(co-authored by Kelly Congdon and R. Gordon Mitchell)
As debate scholars, we applaud the June 4th letter from John McCain to Barack Obama proposing an ambitious series of town hall debates prior to the Democratic National Convention. While debates have become routine fixtures in modern presidential campaigns, there are some striking features of the McCain proposal.
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: McCain, Obama, presidential debates, Brett O'Donnell, debate formats
Nagin Says Presidential Forum A Go - Well Almost
Nagin Says Presidential Forum A Go
Michael Hill, - ABC26 News
May 29, 2008, 4:38 PM CDT
METAIRIE -- Mayor Ray Nagin said the City of New Orleans will host a presidential forum, featuring at least 2 candidates on June 7th.
The forum, which is planned to take place during the annual meeting of the National Conference of Mayors, will focus largely on New Orleans recovery an urban issues.
Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have committed to the forum in writing, according to Mayor Nagin. He says the city is still working on confirming Senator McCain's presence.
City and state leaders and Women of the Storm called upon the candidates individually to participate in an independent forum after the National Council of Presidential Debates turned down New Orleans' bid to host one of their debates.
Well almost a "debate" outside the domain of the CPD (Commission on Presidential Debates) McCain has not accepted but may be "obligated" given his call for several debates in the summer and fall.
See an earlier post on the New Orleans Forum.
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: New Orleans, Nagin, CPD, Candidate Forum
Barring Barr from CPD Debates
Now that Bob Barr (GA) has secured the Libertarian nomination for president efforts to get him in the political mix pick up pace. Not surprisingly some in the Libertarian party have begun to push Barr's inclusion in the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).
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: CPD, General election debates, Bob Barr, Libertarians, Obama, McCain
Media Calls for More Debates than CPD's Three
In what will likely be a chorus of editorials and pundits endorsing a general election breakaway from the three scheduled Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) debates the USA Today editorialized on Tuesday, May 27.
[T]there's no reason they [CPD debates] have to be the only times the candidates share a stage; this year they might not be.
The
USA editorial cites as precedence the Lincoln/Douglas debate and an almost tour of Kennedy and Goldwater stopped by events in Dallas.
The rational for the debate series is not well developed in their endorsement, but a chorus of voices begins to pave the way for overturning an outdated CPD monopoly. They argue that Obama and McCain and voter interest demands innovation in format and opportunity.
The uneven quality of the debates during the primary season showed the need for alternative formats. Joint appearances would elevate the tone of the campaign and benefit voters.
Surely there are political risks in even an elevated join-tour, but the possibilities for signaling a change in the system has to appeal to both camps.
The three scheduled CPD debates are: Sept. 26 in Oxford, Miss., Oct. 7 in Nashville and Oct. 15 in Hempstead, N.Y.
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: CPD, general debates, USA Today, editorials
One more Debate? - Clinton Continues to Ask
Hillary Clinton has called for a number of debates since the last held just before the Pennsylvania primary, in NC, IN, OR (two debates), MT, SD and now Puerto Rico. The Obama camp has remained, not surprisingly, largely silent about any more primary debates.
Obama spokespersons have signaled willingness to engage McCain in debates beyond the three scheduled by the CDC.
Hillary's latest call for a debate in Puerto Rico followed the challenger form: (1) the people deserve to hear (2) an actual invitation has been accepted, and (3) the move to pressure an opponent - a demand.
The difference in the PR edition is that there is no media buzz. The story of the "presumptive nominee" trumps debate speculation - rendering it mute, idol conjecture for an event that simply won't happen.
The moral of the story, debate-about-debates only has media legs when the race is real and news organizations need a fresh storyline.
Fox News reported Clinton's words yesterday:
Speaking outside a small restaurant in Penuelas, where a translator interpreted her every sentence for the crowd of 50 Puerto Ricans, Clinton said she'd accepted a debate in the island commonwealth, and hoped that Obama would do the same.
"The issues facing Puerto Rico are serious and deserve a serious debate," she said. "I was informed that Univision will sponsor a debate between Senator Obama and myself about the issues affecting Puerto Rico. I accept that invitation. Any time, anywhere."
ABC News blog's description itself diminishes the "demand."
She continued her plea in Penuelas, Puerto Rico, standing outside a restaurant while less than 100 people gathered on a dirt walkway.
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: Clinton, debate about debates, Puerto Rico
Libertarian Debate on C-SPAN - May 24
Libertarian Party to hold candidate debate in Denver tonight. The debate will take place at 7:00 PM (MST), moderated by Fox News contributor James Pinkerton. The debate is scheduled to be broadcast live by C-SPAN.
From the website The Liberty Papers
Half of the candidates vying for the Libertarian Party's nomination for president have qualified to participate in tonight's presidential debate at the 2008 Libertarian National Convention.
Candidates must collect 30 tokens in order to qualify for a 16-minute nominating speech to be given on Sunday before the voting begins. For the presidential debate, candidates had to collect 10 percent of the delegate tokens available by Saturday morning. That number was 57.
The candidates who qualified for Saturday's debate are as follows:
Bob Barr (94 tokens)
Wayne Allyn Root (94 tokens)
Mary Ruwart (94 tokens)
Mike Gravel (67 tokens)
Mike Jingozian (63 tokens)
George Phillies (62 tokens)
Steve Kub by 60 tokens)
"We're very excited to have a healthy number of candidates involved in tonight's presidential debate," says Libertarian Party National Media Coordinator Andrew Davis.
The debate happened, little media attention and on multiple ballots the next day Barr gets the Libertarian nomination.
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: Libertarian, presidential debates, Bob Barr, Mike Gravel, third party debates
Experimenting with the Fall Presidential Debates
The media is at work offering the candidates advice for the fall debates. In particular, the Chicago Tribune Washington Bureau's Jim Tankersley weighs in with a list to guide the traveling road show proposed by McCain. Some of the ideas have merit; others would raise more debates among the campaigns and the media.
The meta-message of this advice is: (1) the Commission on Presidential Debates is not a factor, never even acknowledged in the post and (2) despite careful wording the campaigned is framed as a two man race, the proposal implicitly "assumes" McCain vs. Obama.
Specific suggestions from the entry "Traveling debates for McCain, Obama? Here's how."
The "road show" format could change that with a few simple guidelines that wouldn't favor either candidate - only voters.
- Let the candidates pick a number of debates in advance and promise to stick to them - no calls for more debates later if someone is trailing in the polls or media exposure. We'll use 10 for our example, but it could be any number the campaigns decide on.
- Draft venues. Ten debates? McCain picks five sites, the Democrat picks five sites. No objections allowed. If they wanted to get fancy, they could each have to pick a site in one of five regions - the Northeast, the South, the industrial Midwest, the Southwest and the West Coast.
The Swamp's suggestions continues below the cut
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: format, road show debates, media advice, CPD
Clinton Presses for Oregon Debate
Hillary Clinton continued to press for debates in Oregon on Friday. She told a crowd "If you think you've made up your mind to support my opponent, wait awhile. Keep thinking. Keep waiting for that debate." She originally called for two Oregon debates in her Compact with Oregon video.
I may have missed them, but I do not recall a response from the Obama camp or a flurry of news articles on his ducking debate in Oregon. There nary a mention in the Portland Oregonian.
Calls for debates seemingly require viability to be newsworthy. Obviously that question is in flux, crowding out any recent advantages Hillary may have gained in local markets in calls for debates.
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: Debate about Debates, Oregon, Clinton
Rock the Debates Calls for Third Party Inclusion in Debates
Rock the Debates has called McCain and Obama to include third party candidates in debates this fall. They write in an open letter to McCain "In all likelihood there will be four presidential candidates who will have a mathematical chance, in addition to the Democrat and you."
Names of the other candidates are not mentioned, perhaps because other candidates are still to be determined.
Imagine the insights with Bob Barr and Ralph Nader chiming in.
They cite Clinton and Obama's willingness to open the debates, a dubious claim at best and ask McCain to respond by May 20.
Don't hold your breadth. Multi-candidate debates only make sense when the contenders have a chance. Otherwise they are distractions. Mike Gravel could take time away from charming the Obama Girl to give comic relief.
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: Third Parties, Rock the Debates, McCain, fall debates
The CPD Holds No Cards - Alternate Debates Likely
The Commission on Presidential Debates is in a world of hurt, the 24/7s and technology have bypassed them and it appears McCain and Obama also are interested in holding debates outside of the rigid CPD's fall foursome (or at least adding other forums). The Commission should be nervous, very nervous.
Candidates Apply Pressure:
Floating a trial balloon via McCain's lead media creator Mark McKinnon last week, the GOP presumptive suggested that he and Obama "agree to campaign together in some states, attending joint town hall meetings and debating each other without a moderator."
McKinnon rather directly suggested:
The town hall meeting is John's best format. He's a natural campaigner up close with the public. That would test Obama's claims that he wants a clean fight on the issues."
Yesterday, according to
Alaska Report, Barack Obama seems interested
it would be a "great idea" to hold joint town hall-style campaign events with John McCain. Obviously, we would have to think through the logistics on that, but ... if I have the opportunity to debate substantive issues before the voters with John McCain, that's something that I am going to welcome."
Below the fold: New Orleans Debate Looms Large
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: CPD, New Orleans, alternative debates, McKinnon, YouTube
Indiana Libertarian Party holds Presidential debate - And. . .
Even with Mike Gravel at the microphone, it was nearly impossible for the Libertarian party to drum up any media coverage for an Indiana presidential debate in late April. Looking at the video and judging by the smattering of applause, there were not many in the immediate audience either.
I post this as commentary on how difficulty it is for third party candidates to take part in the national dialogue and how staging debates that matter is still reserved for major party presidential candidates. There have been scores of televised political debates in North Carolina this year, for Governor and Lt. Governor Candidates for both parties, in what are very competitive races, but they too cannot break through.
Rock the Debates is conducting an Internet campaign to encourage major party candidates to debate third-parties, but they have no traction either. You may find their video campaign interesting, sort of a "drive-by-video" effort to sham mainstream candidates into inclusive debates.
Video of the debate
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: Libertarian, Debate access, Crowd-out, Indiana, Gravel
The "Beginning-of-the-End" for the CPD
The Commission on Presidential Debate ability to control presidential debates is about to end. Likely there will be four CPD debate in the fall but there may a lot more debates as well.
The latest entry is set for Sept. 18 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, featuring Google and YouTube technology to generate questions for the candidates.
The three remaining candidates have been contacted about participating and have not signed on (waiting for the Democratic nomination), but notably no one had rejected the idea in deference to the CPD.
New Orleans, spurned by the commission in the selection process as "not ready" has the support of the Louisiana political establishment, including popular Governor Bobby Jindal, continuing a lobbying effort begun nearly a year ago.
And why shouldn't the candidates agree. Exposure is the name of the game and there are easy alternates to the major networks and inflexible CDP structure. Why not spread the risk and recovery time from three over-hyped CPD productions? Surely the 24/7 networks would be willing, having scored all time ratings during the primary period.
New Orleans may just be the tip of the iceberg. The CPD, which scooped the League of Women Voters to take control for the two major parties, may be endangered themselves.
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: CPD, New Orleans, Presidential Debates, Jindal, League of Women Voters, Nework debates, YouTube
"Big Sky" Lincoln-Douglas Debate Possible
Hillary Clinton has accepted a Lincoln-Douglas debate in Missoula Montana to be held before the June 3rd primary. The debate would be held at the University of Montana in Missoula, the liberal epicenter of the state.
As reported in the Billings Gazette by--a friend-- Charles Johnson, State Bureau Chief, Clinton is on board and Obama is "evaluating the offer.
The Clinton campaign has for calling for a Lincoln-Douglas the last four days, with Obama resisting. I have wondered who would host the debate since the format would cut out the "talent" from the networks, allowing perhaps a real debate. If the networks are not themselves the central featured why would they cover the debate? Civic engagement surely takes second place to network ratings.
The host answer seems to be an obscure Montana newspaper, the Clark Fork Chronicle, which actually offered the idea for a no-moderator free forum L-D debate back on February 27, made by publisher John Q. Murray. There is not indication the new found headline producing Clinton proposal was inspired by an invitation from the newspaper two months ago, but perhaps.
The format for a non-moderated debate, if Clinton's proposals prevail (L-D Challenge to Obama campaign), would have free form turn taking with the candidates introducing topics and commentary, and all without `gotcha' video and "knowing" signs by journalists. June is a ways away. Should the race still be active Obama might find format and timing to his liking.
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: Debate about debates, Montana, Lincoln Douglas debate, primary debates, Clinton
No Debates? - Hillary Wins in Local Markets
While the Clinton campaign continues to stoke the "Let's Debate" fires across four states with little chance of getting debates, there is payoff for the campaign via stories appearing in local press coverage. Every state thinks it deserves to be courted and one sure sign is hosting another debate.
Even if there are not debates Clinton continues to receive local press coverage when she and her surrogates reiterate calls for debates.
Howard Wolfson, a Clinton strategist/spokesperson dramatically, threw down the gauntlet mockingly speaking for Obama, ""You know, I'm going to take my marbles, I'm going to go home, I don't want to do this anymore.' Well, you know what, it's important for a presidential candidate to be able to debate well"
The National Journal's Hotline provides a dramatic example of how the debate-about-debates plays in local media outlets, visuals dominating:
With a band of like-minded area Clinton supporters, Dannie Chandler rented a yellow limousine, attached a chicken head to its roof and parked the avian display in front of the Obama office field office."He's just a chicken if he doesn't want a debate," Chandler, 64, said when reached via phone.
About 10 volunteers stood outside Obama's office for an hour and a half yesterday in the pouring rain, holding signs that read: "Too Chicken To Debate?" and "Running Scared In Indiana." Chandler and his poultry brood had to wear yellow parkas to protect themselves from the pouring rain.
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: debate about debates, local coverage, Indiana, Clinton
NC Debate-About-Debate Intensifies
Friday morning Hillary Clinton stepped up her call for a televised debate in North Carolina. Speaking at a firehouse in Jacksonville NC (MSNBC's FirstRead):
She made a pitch for her campaign's interactive "NC Ask Me" feature, in which people can submit questions online and get an answer -- some of which have been used in television ads.
"It has been great, and we've gotten over 14,000 questions," she said. "We have answered every one of those questions. But the only question I can't answer is why Sen. Obama won't debate me in North Carolina. And I'd sure like to give an answer."
She said that each upcoming state deserves their own debate, because "the issues in Pennsylvania are not the same as the issues in North Carolina," and "the issues in North Carolina aren't the same as the issues in Indiana."
"There's all kinds of issues that we should be debating about right here in North Carolina," she said. "So again I offer that I'll go anywhere at any time. And we'll have that debate as long as Sen. Obama would agree to actually meet me. I think that would be good for the voters and it would be good for this important campaign."
Does a debate in NC make sense? The Obama campaign has been trying to deflect the calls invoking "debate fatigue," citing 21 previous debates. More likely they find more comfort in filling
UNC's Dean Dome next Monday than taking the time out to prepare for anther debate. The recent history of debates indicates the Clinton campaign would use a debate to press attacks and find openings for positioning following the debate.
Below fold: "So What" and Obama response
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: debate about debates, North Carolina, media narrative, Clinton, Obama
