WP: 'Soft' Voters to Question Candidates at Second Presidential Debate

[kskiska]

Town Hall Session Gives Voice to The Uncommitted

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 7 -- After choosing between flank steak and chicken with prosciutto, the citizen-questioners will take their seats on the risers surrounding the stage and the tall swivel chairs that President Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry will occupy soon. They will have a chance to practice speaking into a microphone, but only the moderator will know what they would ask if given the chance.

Secrecy about the questions is one essential rule among many for what is expected to be the least predictable of the three presidential debates. Rather than a journalist designing questions, Friday night's town hall session will be turned over to the worries and musings of prospective voters.

The 100 to 150 participants were chosen by the Gallup polling organization. They may have opinions about the candidates. They may be leaning to one candidate or the other. But they must also have told a Gallup representative that they might still vote for the other guy. The campaigns call them "soft" supporters.

"We call them uncommitted voters," said Frank Newport, editor in chief of the Gallup Poll.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16129-2004Oct7.html

[neomonkey]

1. Gallup is doing the recruiting

Be afraid, very afraid :scared:

I hope this doesn't turn into an amBush.

[maddogesq]

4. The Kerry camp knows this, I am sure.

If our side had flopped in the last debate, I wouldn't even watch this one. However, indications are they picked up on simian weaknesses, and also knew who organized what. I suspect that if things go sour, Kerry will pull out a whammy sometime during the evening's festivities.

Last week, I was worried before the debate. However, once the chimp was confronted by a smart guy that was as tall as Lincoln was, he squirmed like the weasel he his.

Now, keep in mind I am 5'2"--not my fault--and I am saying that even Ear-piece Helper won't help.

Worse case scenario: This shindig will be a draw.

[crossroads]

6. I agree! They could *all* be Repuks!

:dem:

[AndyTiedye]

17. AmBush Very Probable. What Else Can They Do?

I'm sure these guys are available again:

http://dir.salon.com/politics/feature/2000/11/28/miami/index.html
and it seems more than likely that the fundies who now own Gallup
will provide * the kind of audience he wants.

[Kimber Scott]

18. Kerry's been in a real ambush, while Bush has been in a bubble. nt

[asjr]

2. I hope Shrub's feet dangle off those tall swivel chairs.

[truthisfreedom]

3. jeepers. why was gallup chosen? they've distorted bush's standing all

along, and they've been hired by cnn and fox to do polling, so they're potentially influenced. argh.

[kysrsoze]

5. This is utter, fucking bullshit. How do they get away with it?

I'm so sick of the unfair play. Oh well, dimwit will still come off like a horse's ass, so I'm not worried. Kerry's going to destroy him.

[PartyPooper]

7. Kerry will kick Junior's ass for sure!

:kick:

[venus]

21. Kerry will end up defending his position on Iraq most of the evening

especially since the moderator will be able to ask follow-up questions. Bush will just get complimentary statements relating to his religion and how great a Prez he is; I guarantee.

[napi21]

8. I heard this same naysayer BS about Leherer, and I thought Jim did a good

job with his questions. Gwen was a bit of a failure because she lost control, but the questions were ok. I think you are all being paranoid with this concern about Gallup too. None of us can predict who will ask what, but I think both candidates are preparing hard because they don't know either!

I think Kerry will do fine tomorrow because he can think on his feet. Shrub can't.

[neomonkey]

10. I agree with you that while Gallup is certainly

not an unbiased organization by any means, I think John Kerry will clean up because Idiot King can only get so much help before his naked stupidity becomes apparent.

You can bet your ass I'll be a bit hypervigilant tomorrow night, keeping silent tally of the pro- and anti-Kerry questions as opposed to those directed at Shrub.

[napi21]

12. You're right, but isn't that's Gibson's job?

He's got the easiest job of any of the moderators. Doesn't have to compose any questions. All he has to do is keep track of time and choose alternative questions from both sides equally. Hell, I could do that job!

[neomonkey]

13. I'd rather you did! :) n/t

[Starlight]

15. I believe Gibson actually chooses the questions...

I saw him on tv a few days ago (no idea what show) and he was saying that these "undecided voters" submit questions to him and he (Gibson) sorts through them and chooses which questions he wants to ask.

[napi21]

16. Absolutely! I heard that too, but he doesn't have to prepare his own

the way Lehrer pr Eifel did. That's all I meant. Sure, he could choose easy ones or hard ones, and be biased to one candidate, but I don't care about that. I think each candidate should be able to answer any question asked.

I'm not susre how this town hall thing is going to work exactly. I'm guessing they will still follow the same 2 minutes to answer and 90 seconds to rebut. If so, however easy or hard the questions are, it won't matter much.

[Amigust]

9. Words are cheap

But they must also have told a Gallup representative that they might still vote for the other guy.

Words are cheap, but GOPers know they get them what they want.

I wouldn't trust Gallup as far as I could throw them.

[SoCalDem]

11. "I" call them liars and attention whores..

If they went to a mall and randomly selected people entering or leaving, they would have a fairer representative group..:)

[noamnety]

14. it wouldn't be a bad thing if they were leaning to bush

A lot of rumors and misrepresentations have gotten play in the media for no reason. If someone asks a question from a Rove talking point, it's Kerry's opportunity to act as fact check and straighten out America on the issue. It's a chance for some well-needed debunking to occur.

I think that was a point that could have been played stronger in the Edwards-Cheney debate. When the moderator was asking questions that seemed slightly hostile/repeating of rumor mongering, it could have been played more as an opportunity, less as a defensive role. A bit of "I'm glad you brought that up, now I can set the record straight" attitude can be a good thing.

[George_S]

19. Exactly!

And the undecideds will have questions about that stuff.

Let's hope Kerry plays it that way.

[bagnana]

20. this pisses me off. Gallup's so called neutral polling

always manages to poll more repubs than dems. so what makes you think anything would change for tomorrow? This is a rigged game!

[Bongo Prophet]

23. YES! Even 'loaded" questions for JK can be used for good!

So much of what the uninformed voter "knows" about JK is BS.
this is an opportunity to set it straight.

And conversely, even softball questions to Bush will likely be either flubbed, tired sound-bite answer, or lame joke that falls flat.

This one might be fun.

[DeepModem Mom]

22. Kerry has his work cut out for him in a Gallup/Gibson-run event --

damn! Good thing he has his own strength, and W's weaknesses. Still, we better get one of those prayer threads going tonight for John, bigtime --

[Dem2theMax]

24. I've been praying for months! Not gonna stop now.

Kerry can handle anything. * - hahaha. I'm sure his handlers have tried to work with him during the past week, but * holds a grudge. All Kerry has to do is mention poppy and BAM, out will come the funny faces, hand hitting the podium, steam from the ears, tail growing, forked tongue forking even more, etc. :evilgrin: I wouldn't take a bet on * not getting all pissed off. In fact, I'm counting on his getting so mad he blows it big time tonight. (crossing fingers, toes and eyes for extra help.) ;)