Politics and the Presidential Debates

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Another Round of Presidential Debates ()

You could be forgiven for thinking the presidential election is just around the corner, instead of late next year. Debate season is well underway.  Last night, New Hampshire was the site of the third Republican debate so far. Earlier in the week, it was host to the second debate by the Democrats. Democrats elbowed each other, Republicans went after the Democrats, and pretty much everybody criticized President Bush. With a flock of contenders in both fields, what effect do early debates have on the long-term race?  Eighteen months before the election, what campaign strategies are emerging? Do debates have any effect on public opinion so early in the season? Will immigration and Iraq define the election next year?

Guests:

• Tony Fabrizio: Republican analyst
• Michael Crowley: Senior Editor at The New Republic, @CrowleyTIME
• John Zogby: President and CEO of Zogby International
• Ann Stone: National Chair of Republicans for Choice, @aews
• Mara Vanderslice: Founder of Common Good Strategies

Links:

• USA Today/Gallup Poll

Reporter's Notebook

WSJ Reporters' Union Seeks Alternatives to Murdoch ()

The Wall Street Journal, which often covers billionaires in its news pages, has a particular interest in them these days. Last month it became public that media magnate Rupert Murdoch has offered $5 billion to buy the Journal and its parent, Dow Jones and Company. Journal employees are so worried about what Murdoch might do to its editorial independence that their union has begun writing letters to a select group of billionaires, asking whether they might be interested in a newspaper for sale. Columnist Tim Rutten writes on the media for the Los Angeles Times.

Guests:

• Tim Rutten: Columnist, Los Angeles Times