Multi-modality debating: How social media (especially Twitter) are changing the presidential debates

How we choose to watch political debates changes what we get out of them. That’s not really news: scholars have been discussing this effect since the first televised presidential debates in 1960. Popular wisdom suggested Nixon’s poor appearance (“death-like”) on TV hurt his standing compared to Kennedy’s vitality, later supported by finding that people who …

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Owning “Obamacare”: The implications of a new message strategy

With the Affordable Care Act back at the front of the media landscape as it arrives in front of the Supreme Court this week, advocates on both sides of the issue are dusting off their messaging strategies around the issue. Last Friday, President Obama signalled that rather than running from the title of “Obamacare” that Republicans have …

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Nate Silver concurs: Gingrich now favored to win South Carolina

An update to yesterday’s blog post: Nate Silver of The New York Times now concurs with my prediction that Gingrich will win South Carolina. When writing my blog post yesterday, Silver had Gingrich and Romney tied with a 50% chance to win, but late last night, Silver updated his numbers to give Gingrich a 62% chance of victory, based on the …

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The perfect storm: Why Newt will win South Carolina

I’m coming out and saying it: I think Newt Gingrich will win South Carolina this weekend. I’m shocked that I’m saying it, but the forces all seem to be coming together to create a perfect storm favoring Gingrich to surge past Romney. Specifically: 1) A good debate performance on Monday night – one that Gingrich …

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A new chapter for Profiles in Courage: The debt ceiling debate

Like much of the nation, I’m frustrated and angry that our politicians have let the U.S. come so close to default on its debts – and that the issue still isn’t resolved. But as I packed my bags to move closer (geographically at least!) to the heart of this mess, I came across John F. …

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