If given the choice, one wonders which reality show would fare better if up against one another tonight--the highly touted McCain/Obama network debate or the Klum/Gunn cable juggernaught, Project Runway.
One might argue the reality factor in either case--but both are products
of the television age, drawing millions of viewers.
We didn't have major parties debating until 1960. Remember? Vice President Nixon went up against the dashing Senator Kennedy with devastating results for the Nixon campaign.
In 1976 it was Carter and Ford. In 1980 Reagan was at the podium. In 1984 RR's back debating Walter Mondale. Michael Dukakis was up in 1988 and in 1992 Bill Clinton became an overnight sensation.
A bit of history! From 1960-1976 the equal-time provisions of the Communications Act scared off candidates. But in 1975, the FCC ruled that debates were news events. And if sponsored by organizations other than the networks, they were exempt from any equal-time requirements. The League of Women Voters volunteered to sponsor the debates. In 1988 that position was taken over by the Commission on Presidential Debates.
It's highly debatable, but there you have it!
BB
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