C-Span Shows Hopefuls in All Their Unedited Glory

[chimpymustgo]

By LYNETTE CLEMETSON

Published: January 26, 2004

IAMI BEACH, Jan. 25 — Howard Dean was all smiles at a Women for Dean rally on Sunday in Hooksett, N.H., as he stood in front of a crowded room with Judith Steinberg Dean, his politically reluctant spouse who has made few campaign appearances. The couple exchanged loving glances as she read her introduction of him from a laptop computer.

But after the event, Dr. Dean's tone changed, as he said discreetly but audibly: "Get her out. Get her out. Get her out."

It could be that Dr. Dean was trying to shield his wife from the crush of supporters. But perhaps he forgot that while most of his supporters, as well as reporters, were out of earshot, C-Span was broadcasting the event live.

New Hampshire is known for its folksy, up-close approach to primary politics. But interested voters need not be within shivering distance of the frigid Northeastern air to catch an intimate glimpse of the Democratic presidential candidates as they power through private homes, restaurants and auditoriums vying for the party's nomination. They need only be as close as their television.

-snip-

Viewers might have welcomed hearing Senator John Edwards of North Carolina blow out a weary sigh and declare, "This is so much better than 30 second sound bites," after finishing a lengthy interview with "The Exchange," a Public Radio program in New Hampshire.

Watchers perhaps cringed when Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts huffed and puffed his way around an ice hockey rink in Manchester, N.H., with professional players.

-snip-


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/26/politics/campaign/26CAMP.html

*****

For all us C-SPAN junkies, a bit of a tribute to our favorite channel.

[maddezmom]

1. CSPAN junkie here

fun article...I hope they all get some new stump speeches. :) They all are starting to sound like a skipping CD to me. But the average voter is just tuning in, so I'll bet we're in for a lot more of the same.

[girl gone mad]

3. I've also got..

all of the stump speeches pretty much memorized by now. Ecept for Kerry's, because I just don't have the attention span for him.

[BuelahWitch]

2. There were some very audible disruptors at the Dean rally yesterday

Kept yelling and interrupting even as he tried to address their issue (something to do with AIDS). This was at the end of the program and I'm sure he wanted to get her out of there in case they started something. Of course the story leaves that part out and decides to put in their own little dig "It could be that Dr. Dean was trying to shield his wife from the crush of supporters."

Seems like alot of that sort of disruption going on the past few days. I'm also referencing the "LaRouche" guy at Kerry's rally the other night.

[girl gone mad]

4. I didn't read it..

as a negative. I thought it sounded sweet that he was trying to protect his wife, who is clearly a shy person.

[Guaranteed]

5. Yeah....couldn't stand those people.

This guy's trying to do something right for once, and they're screwing with him. Some people just don't know when to shut the hell up.

[AP]

6. That Laura Knoy interview with Edwards was very interesting for exactly

the reason they note. There was a station ID break in the middle, and they had a very comfortable chat "off air", and the stuff at the end -- the 30 second sound bite comments -- were aslo very, well, comfortable and humanizing.

Here it is: video.c-span.org/project/c04/c04012204_edwards.rm