In Presidential Race, A Focus On Sideshows

CBSNews.com Reports: In Relatively Slow News Period, Supporters' Gaffes Dominate Coverage

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter Brian Montopoli.

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Welcome to the season of the political sideshow.

Over the past month, questions about substantive policy differences, the latest primary contest, or even the presidential candidates themselves have somewhat faded from view. In their place, news consumers have been offered a consistent stream of stories about the controversial statements of the candidates' high-profile supporters.

They include surrogates like Samantha Power, who stepped down from the campaign of Barack Obama after calling Hillary Clinton a "monster." Geraldine Ferraro, who caused a firestorm by saying, "if Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position." And talk show host Bill Cunningham, who stressed Obama's middle name, Hussein, at a John McCain campaign rally.

There were the religious figures: Obama pastor Jeremiah Wright, whose controversial comments, among them "God damn America," sparked a firestorm. Louis Farrakhan, who has called Jews “bagel-eating vermin," and whose endorsement of Obama led the Illinois Senator to "reject and denounce" his comments. McCain backer John Hagee, whose controversial comments on Catholicism McCain later distanced himself from. And McCain "spiritual guide" Rod Parsley, who has agitated against Islam and called it a "false religion."

And there were this week's headline-grabbers: Clinton backer James Carville, who characterized Bill Richardson as "Judas" for backing Obama. Obama senior adviser Gordon Fischer, who invoked “Monica’s blue dress” in a blog post. And Obama advisor Merrill A. McPeak, whose linking of comments by former President Bill Clinton and McCarthyism prompted an outraged fundraising appeal from the Clinton campaign.

There can be legitimate value in these types of stories - a surrogate's statements can potentially offer a window into a candidate's own thinking. And the Wright controversy, which initially appeared likely to play out as did the Power and Ferraro stories, ultimately prompted Obama's much-discussed address on race.

But critics have begun to question the degree to which the campaigns - and the press corps - have made such statements central to the campaign narrative.

"It's part of the curse of the long campaign," said Thomas Patterson, Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. "It speaks to the degree to which the really important things can fall by the wayside."

Patterson says that reporters, who feel they have already covered the substantive differences between the candidates, seize on controversial comments by supporters for a fresh angle.

"They're not totally distractions - some of them are worth covering," he said. "Have at it on [Samatha] Power. Let's have an argument here about calling someone a monster. The problem is when issues like this become the story - the lens through which you look at the campaign."

Michael Feldman, a Democratic strategist and former Al Gore advisor, argues that the "political industrial complex" that has grown up around the campaign needs to be fed, even during slow news periods. And stories about gaffe-prone supporters can do the trick - which is why the campaigns push such stories in their near-daily conference calls and memos to reporters.

"You have a gap, a rather lengthy gap, in between major contests, but this infrastructure has been developed and needs to be fed," said Feldman. "It needs to still operate, there's a never-ending search for material, and campaigns have adjusted to fill the void."

Indeed, political reporters once had a seemingly limitless number of possible angles - a large number of intriguing candidates, an unprecedented extended primary season, an historic Democratic slate that prompted questions about Americans' relationship with race and gender. Then John McCain secured the Republican nomination, the primary season slowed down, and issues that reporters were once eager to explore seemed, to them at least, increasingly stale.

It's not unlike "the two weeks between the end of the playoffs and the Super Bowl," according to Democratic strategist Chris Lehane - a time when reporters have to keep cranking out stories even though they don't feel they have much to write about. Campaigns see such periods as opportunities to exert greater influence over coverage than they once could.

But this constant pressing for advantage - the near-constant outrage over what one supporter or another had to say - can hurt campaigns, Patterson argues, because it keeps negative stories about the candidates in the headlines.

"At the moment, it's these surrogates that are driving a lot of this coverage, and I think to the detriment of the Democratic candidates, and likely to hurt the Democrats' prospects in the fall," he said.

In the end, Feldman argues, the campaigns are simply trying to manage a "virtually unmanageable process."

"Is this stuff a distraction? Sometimes," he said. "Is it news we can use? Sometimes. All of it taken together can help people make up their minds. But if what you're asking is, 'is all of it in proportion?' No. It's not. But that's the very nature of a modern presidential campaign."

[b-easy63]

ONCE AGAIN....Obama may find himself in hot water--not for something he did, but for who he knows. Those Rezko indictments are sure to heat up and spill over and cause damage!!

Unfortunately for Hillary--she can''''''''t catch a break, soon to potentially break in the news is the story before the California appeals court which could DeLay her candidacy for good. this time evidence shows that Hillary (HERSELF ONCE AGAIN)was involved. At issue is a 250K donation made to her senatorial campaign. Her staff said she had no knowledge of it, so she was not roped into the scandal when her campaign mgr faced charges of hiding that money from the IRS.

Unfortunately VIDEO may again place Hill in deep doo, doo. It seems there is a video tape recording her discussing the fund raiser with the donors (on it, she talks about who would be there and what they will do) this means she performed what is known as a direct campaign request. donations from donors for that kind of request are limited to 25K. Since the donation was for 250K, that would be considered campaign fraud.

Woe is Hillary and Damnnnn those videos and tape recordings that make being a great liar so hard to keep up these days!!! ROTFLMAO.

Maybe Hill should quit, before she finds herself in court this time, with no way to hide her hand in shady dealings. Here''''''''s the Link: http://www.usjf.net/modules.php?op=modlo

ad&name=News&file=article&sid=344

[jankebenz]

Everyone has ther right to support or reject a canidateas you are

[jankebenz]

Everyone has ther right to support or reject a canidateas you are

In Ring #1, Obama(can''t tell if it''s ring around the collar or ring around the tub but then words sometimes matter and sometimes don''t); Ring #2, Clinton(she hates to have the first ring, except at 3am); Ring #3, McCain(his is a double ring ceremony, with Bush''s through his nose). A three ring circus of race, gender and age. Shades of P.T. Barnum, what''s a little sideshow among friends? Which side are they showing? Not showing? Lordy, "brother loves a traveling salvation show."

[phillysage]

Actually, Barakh Hussein Obama, is the real sideshow

[phillysage]

Actually, Barakh Hussein Obama, is the real sideshow

[phillysage]

Actually, Barakh Hussein Obama, is the real sideshow

[providence_-2009]

These elections are getting out of hand. I do not know who to vote for? Should we vote for Hillary or Obama or McCain any ideas anybody? The fighting on lying and racial bigotry that is going on in this election between the candidates is not good for the country! One idea is to go to http colon slash slash pilgrimswaylighted dot blogspot dot com do not add the www at all. Let me know what you think ok by the voting tab. whoever is the next president will be dealing with a big can of poisonous worms. Like the economy, illegal aliens and terrorism to boot etc. etc.

[famagusta74]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_80854.html
go to the above site and read , the ask yourself why you should not vote for Hillary

I use to support Clintons

[jedi08]

You can''t have an election with the Clintons without a side show. They are dirty and the play dirty. Thankfully when it gets to the General election and its Obama vs McCain we wont have to deal with as much of this fluff.

[getcentered]

Please, someone tell where the CENTRIST Republicans are?

Many Americans today have been enlightened by the two wars we find ourselves involved. One war, the "war on terrorism", finds its main battleground in Afghanistan, and it is a war that costs lives and money but the majority of Americans support. Liberals, Democrats, Republicans, Conservatives, most don''t have a problem with us kicking down the doors of members of the Taliban.

When talking about the war in Iraq the parties have much difference. Democrats say that the public and congress was mislead to justify the war in Iraq and that the Bush Administration no longer deserves autonomy in situations where US service men and women''s lives are on the line. Based on the results of the last Congressional elections, most Americans see a problem with GOP/Republicans; at least in the way they make decisions about the use of our military.

So why is it that in the GOP/Republican party there are no dissenters, no independent thinkers, no moderates? Where are the real conservatives who would laugh at how conservatively the current Republican party has been spending taxes, and creating big government? Has the Republican Party lost its identity? Can the ideology of the GOP be so easily summed up in Karl Rove talking points like %u201Csupport this and support that%u201D, and angry rhetoric like %u201Cliberals are traitors%u201D?

Hello centrist Republicans! Anybody out there?

[robstrck]

http://biglizards.net/blog/archives/2008/02/lets_do_it_agai.html

[metroduck75]

While many Obama''s Supporters think it''s "cool" to have a Black Prez....

It''s totally UNbalanced to have a Minority governing over a Majority... That will only create More Chaos and Trouble.

I have been a faithful Democrat for years.... But if the Liberals in the DEM pushes for Obama, rest assure that my Community and I will definitely jump ship to McCain.

[kennersal]

Here is a video on the relationship between John McCain and his evil
pastor supporter John Hagee. Please send to as many people as
possible so we can show everyone that McCain has his own pastor
problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qNi7tPanUA.

[kennersal]

Here is a video on the relationship between John McCain and his evil
pastor supporter John Hagee. Please send to as many people as
possible so we can show everyone that McCain has his own pastor
problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qNi7tPanUA.

[suzy111]

Let the circus begin, the worst part is that they think we are stupid enough to fall for the daily jabs. I believe that most Americans are smart and we just get tired of the "Springer" effect and stop listening.

[lvdragonlady-2009]

What I want to know is why the nedia does not focus on something more *** important the Rev.Wright and what he preached? You have candidates that should be addressing issues relevant to the american people. I feel the media is using these scare tactics because they have nothing better to do then toute race and fear. Do your *** jobs for a change instead of rehashing old b.s.
Here is something you could report on:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/03/obamas-year-old-letter-to-bern.php

[rushlimpdrug]

More side shows pleeze.

[randynason]

I''ve seen more freaks in a circus sideshow. These people should stay out of the way and let the process proceed.

[randynason]

These people are distracting from the general focus. They need to get out and keep out of the way.