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    Behind the Curtain- Debate Prep

    By CJP | September 26, 2008

    It's ON at Ole Miss tonight. But with so much time spend flying to D.C. AND so much time not knowing if the debate would even happen, we're wondering when the campaigns have found the time for debate prep. "Debate prep?" Think of it as a combination between cramming for a final and practicing for the lead in the school play. Obama had even planned to sequester himself and his staff in Florida for "debate camp" to really focus on the task at hand. The bailout blowup can count Obama's debate camp and McCain's own prep plans as collateral damage, and the rest of us can count on two under-prepared candidates hitting the stage tonight. Exciting! But had the campaigns done a full debate prep, here's what it would have included:
    • A set: At the highest levels, campaign prep includes a mock-up of the actual set, with candidates behind lecterns if that's the format, or in wingback chairs if that's the plan. The goal is to let the candidate know what to expect visually AND to think about blocking. Al Gore's choice to leave his stool and walk up to George Bush in 2000? Awkward and totally planned.
    • A foil: Every fighter needs a sparring partner, so campaigns recruit a foil to stand in for the opponent, complete with memorized answers and practiced mannerisms. A trial lawyer usually does nicely.
    • A giant binder: Just like "The Book" in "The Devil Wears Prada," campaigns put together a compendium of every possible question to be asked, complete with the candidate's answer and the opponent's likely retort. Mike Murphy, veteran of McCain's 2000 run, shares the secret that there are really only about 20 real questions that ever get asked, but that doesn't keep the staff from including dozens of possible gotchas, including information on the most-up-to-date cost of a gallon of milk and gas.
    • The Line: We don't want to burst your bubbles, but all those one-liners you hear (like Reagan's promise not to exploit Mondale's youth and inexperience for political purposes), are as rehearsed as a Shakespeare play. Once the lines get written, often by staff or friends, it's practice, practice, practice for that completely spontaneous moment. Here are Jeanne Moos' Top 10 best unscripted, totally scripted zingers of campaign 2008. (Hopefully we'll have more after tonight.)

    Topics: The Democrats, The Republicans, Voting

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    One Response to “Behind the Curtain- Debate Prep”

    1. George Spink Says:
      September 26th, 2008 at 11:24 pm

      Watching Senators McCain and Obama in their first debate tonight left me wondering who came out the best.

      Once again, I was surprised by how fast McCain thinks, while Obama impressed me with his knowledge.

      I suspect, as CJP points out, both candidates were prepped to no end.

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