"Inside" Debate Prep - Part II
Debate prep is far from glamorous; in fact, it's downright unpleasant much of the time. Stress is intentional, making the candidates deal with questions and opponents often rougher than when cameras roll.
Yet there is also humor, inside jokes, and flashes of "confidence building." Mike Murphy, McCain's 2000 strategist, offers an amusing account of debate prep in his Time Magazinee column.
It is vital that your candidate not hear your opponent's answers for the first time onstage, since that will often lead to panic if a candidate feels the opponent's answer is far better than his or her own. Hmmm. Great answer. I've got nothing like that. I'm a loser. I'm going to lose this debate. In high school, Belinda would have wanted to go to the prom with him, not me. Anger. MUST ... ATTACK ... NOW!!! At that point something very bad usually happens.
After the fold - "The Perfect Line" - stories from the 2002 Dole Campaign- preview of Palin/Biden?
