Late night TV a must for some presidential candidates.
By
Senator and presidential candidate Chris Dodd (D-Conn) will be a guest on The Daily Show Monday night and The Hartford Courant has an article analyzing when and why late-night TV appearances are necessary for candidates like Dodd. Although the article is focused on TDS appearances, it seems reasonable to predict that this election cycle will see The Colbert Report as a ‘must do’ interview for some candidates. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing how “Stephen Colbert” plays out in the next 20 months.
TV’s A Must For The Likes Of Dodd
March 10, 2007
By DAVID LIGHTMAN, Washington Bureau ChiefWASHINGTON — When Chris Dodd trades quips Monday with the host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” he could be doing more for his White House bid than a dozen visits to New Hampshire.
Dodd, no slouch in the wit department, will duel with the caustic Jon Stewart for only about five minutes. But, between Monday night and reruns on Tuesday, the Connecticut Democrat will probably reach 3.7 million viewers, 2.3 million of them 18- to 49-year-olds.
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But these stints also raise questions about presidential campaigns. Does an appearance with the sardonic Stewart make someone seem less statesmanlike, less presidential? Imagine Abraham Lincoln trading barbs with David Letterman. Or Franklin D. Roosevelt trying to outwit Stephen Colbert.
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When Edwards wound up as the vice presidential nominee, the use of new media was viewed as not only clever, but a way of reaching the younger audience. When presidential nominee John Kerry was under attack from the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which questioned his military service, he went to “The Daily Show” to make his case.
Since then, surveys and even scholarly journals have found that Stewart, as well as “Saturday Night Live,” Letterman and “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno, can be as crucial a campaign stop as a diner in New Hampshire or a fire hall in Iowa. Perhaps more.
A Pew Research Center survey last summer found that while 6 percent of the population said they “regularly” watch “The Daily Show,” that figure jumped to 16 percent for men under 30, and 11 percent among all 18 to 29 year olds.
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Steve Albani, Comedy Central spokesman, would not say just what preparations Stewart is making for Dodd. Stewart, he said, is an avid newspaper reader and has Cable News Network on his office TV all day.
“He doesn’t consult with any political types,” Albani said. “He’ll discuss whatever is going on.”
What Dodd most needs to do, say the experts, is show he’s not too tethered to Washington. He has to avoid talking about “appropriations” or “resolutions” or “cloture,” and stick to issues.
He also needs to project that intangible star power, that weightiness, that elevates someone from being a U.S. senator to a possible president. That could be his toughest task, because Monday night’s clip will probably be available forever on the Internet.
“This can be a great way to show his sense of humor,” said Kerry Szeps, co-president of the Connecticut Young Democrats. “If he can keep up with Jon Stewart, this will work.”
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