The International Leaders’ Forum started today with a wide-ranging discussion on “The 2012 Campaign: The Role of Primaries, Nominating Conventions and Presidential Debates.”
Appropriately, conventions were a hot topic, with panelists describing the important and evolving role of the party showcases. While the nomination itself may be a formality, and as Gov. Howard Dean said, the events probably look like kabuki theater to the outside world, they serve a critical role in American politics. Conventions are now down to about one hour of primetime coverage a night, but as Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post explained, audience viewership jumps from 10 to 40 million people for the major events such as the candidate’s acceptance speech. Frank Fahrenkopf, former chair of the Republican National Committee, discussed how it is more important for the challenger to have a big stage; it is less important to the incumbent as he’s already well known.
Another critical role is to showcase the distinctions between parties, as Paul Kirk, former senator and Democratic National Committee chair, observed. Conventions also signal to American voters that the election is coming and it is time start paying attention. In that context, that one hour of primetime coverage a night has a lot of impact on voters. Conventions, panelists agreed, are also about party activists being brought together from across the country. These mega-events are time for the party to come together after sometimes-divisive primaries. Conventions are “an opportunity to unite the party in the best way,” said Kirk, bridging national, state and grassroots level activists. Conventions are the only time these activists get together from various states. Often the most important things take place behind the scenes, when activists meet to discuss best practices.
Debates, panelists felt, play a central role in the American political process, especially for undecided voters, “perhaps 10 percent of voters,” as Dean suggested. Kirk observed that debates are when candidates meet “face-to-face in the least packaged, most unvarnished setting where they can show their ‘connectivity’ to the people at home.”
Panelists shared recollections of historic debate moments of years past; Dean recalled Lloyd Benson’s devastating line to Dan Quale: “Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. You, sir, are no Jack Kennedy.” Elaine Kamarck, Harvard lecturer, enjoys playing Reagan’s retort to Walter Mondale: “I refuse to make an issue of my opponent’s youth and experience,” for her students.
One modern addition to U.S. politics is the spin room, where the press meets with campaign representatives after debates. Robinson called it a “huge gathering of dervishes” as both sides spin their candidate’s debate performance. Debates continue to percolate in the media afterwards; Kamarck observed that “spin isn’t just about that night. It’s about the days of stories after that.”
NDI’s participants and visitors from Charlotte asked a series of questions digging into the details and comparing the United States to international contexts at the close of the panel.