As the presidential race winds down, the two camps are dialing up the rhetoric. That's led to some far-out statements, unscripted behavior and foot-in-mouth comments from both sides. WUSTL political rhetoric expert Wayne Fields comments.

References:

1. Oct. 25, 2004 — Campaign finale draws gaffes, wacky lines in the Associated Press Online

and 15 others.

WUSTL political rhetoric expert Wayne Fields comments on the strategies of Kerry and Bush.

References:

1. Oct. 19, 2004 — Kerry's attacks on Bush are ripped from newspaper headlines in the Associated Press Worldstream

and 14 others.

Article looks at what colleges gain for hosting presidential debates--a hefty price tag and a lot of visibility. WUSTL public affairs vice chancellor Fred Volkmann comments.

References:

1. Oct. 15, 2004 — A Debatable Return in the Chronicle of Higher Education

Saturday review of the WUSTL debate.

References:

1. Oct. 9, 2004 — In Town Hall Setting, Bush and Kerry Spar on Jobs and Iraq in the New York Times

More than 1,500 journalists from across the globe traveled to WUSTL to cover the Oct. 8 presidential debate between John Kerry and George Bush. The event generated thousands of news mentions for the university, including numerous live broadcasts from impromptu television studios assembled around campus.

References:

1. Oct. 8, 2004 — University glows in presidential debate spotlight in the Associated Press State & Local Wire

and 55 others.

Making the most of their Missouri visit, President Bush and Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry plan to linger in St. Louis following their televised debate Friday night at Washington University.
On Saturday, Bush plans to attend an invitation-only fund-raiser. Kerry expects to immediately follow the debate with a public rally at Art Hill.

References:

1. Oct. 6, 2004 — Bush, Kerry to stay in Missouri after debates in the Associated Press
2. Oct. 6, 2004 — Bush, Kerry will stay on after debate in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Front page article on debate preparations by WUSTL and surrounding communities. WUSTL police chief Don Strom and WUSTL debate steering committee chair Steve Givens comment.

References:

1. Oct. 6, 2004 — The whole world’s watching in the Citizen Journal

WUSTL American Culture Studies director Wayne Fields and other experts review last night's debate.

References:

1. Oct. 1, 2004 — Political observers say both candidates performed well in the Boston Globe

and 2 others.

Writer says WUSTL is an experienced debate host. WUSTL's Steve Givens and T.J. Shelton comment about debate preparations.

References:

1. Sept. 30, 2004 — Washington University prepares for presidential debate in the Associated Press

Presidential candidates Bush and Kerry will meet for a 90-minute debate at the University of Miami. The first of their three scheduled debates focuses on foreign policy and national security, with Kerry expected to contend he can do a better job of securing the country and Bush likely to argue that the war in Iraq is necessary to the nation's safety. Wayne Fields, director of American Culture Studies in Arts & Sciences, said Bush needs to be more detailed about his policies and goals in Iraq.

References:

1. Sept. 30, 2004 — Kerry set to clarify positions in debate in the Associated Press Online
2. Sept. 30, 2004 — Up for Debate in the The Guardian (UK)

and 18 others.

Article asks if Missouri is a swing state that has already swung? So it seems to many people here on the eve of the first presidential debate. John Kerry has not visited the state in nearly three weeks and may not be back, local Democrats say, until the second debate, scheduled at Washington University on Oct. 8. This is no accident of scheduling.

References:

1. Sept. 30, 2004 — With Bush advancing, Missouri may be a battleground all but conquered in the New York Times

This fall's presidential debates will pit George W. Bush's folksy manner and big-picture brand of policymaking against John Kerry's more cerebral outlook and nuanced worldview. Each is a proven debater who knows, only too well, what personal pitfalls to avoid: Wayne Fields, director of American Culture Studies in Arts & Sciences, comments on both candidates.

References:

1. Sept. 27, 2004 — Candidates look to avoid debate pitfalls in the Associated Press Online

and 14 others.

With only six weeks left before the election, Democratic challenger John Kerry is still struggling to define his identity for voters who insist they don't know him well enough to elect him president. More evidence of the problem of connection and communication that has plagued Kerry throughout his candidacy emerged this week at a focus group organized by the nonpartisan Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Wayne Fields, director of American Culture Studies in Arts & Sciences, offers his comments on the situation.

References:

1. Sept. 24, 2004 — Focus group has trouble connecting with Kerry in the Scripps Howard News Service

and 8 others.

Wayne Fields, director of American Culture Studies in Arts & Sciences, comments on Kerry's careful choice of words in his speeches against President Bush. Democrat Harry Truman may have been the last presidential candidate to call his opponent a liar. It just isn't something serious presidential contenders do these days.

References:

1. Sept. 24, 2004 — Kerry avoids calling Bush 'liar' in the Associated Press Online

and 16 others.

The exhibit, "The Presidential Image: 60 Years of the Best of White House Photography," was produced by the University of Missouri-Columbia's School of Journalism and the University of Miami's School of Communication. It is now on display at several locations in Columbia and will be taken to the first two presidential debates, at the University of Miami on Sept. 30 and at Washington University in St. Louis on Oct. 8.

References:

1. Sept. 23, 2004 — "The Presidential Image" Exhibit in the The Associated Press

and 1 others.

After weeks of negotiations, officials with the campaigns of President Bush and challenger John Kerry agreed late Monday afternoon to three presidential debates, with Washington University hosting the middle one on Oct. 8. There will be one vice presidential debate.
Steve Givens, assistant to the chancellor and chairman of Washington University's debate steering committee comments on the reaction at the university.
WUSTL senior and Student Life editor-in-chief Jonathan Greenberger comments.

References:

1. Sept. 21, 2004 — Bush, Kerry will meet in St. Louis for debate in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
2. Sept. 21, 2004 — Debate schedule nailed down; first is on Sept. 30 in the USA Today

and 9 others.

Robert Salisbury, professor emeritus of political science in Arts & Sciences, and Jim Davis, professor of political science in Arts & Sciences, comment on the status of the presidential race in Missouri.

References:

1. Sept. 18, 2004 — Missouri mood bodes well for Bush in the National Post (Canada)

and 3 others.

Barring any major developments in Iraq or on the terrorism or economic fronts, the debates could be even more important than usual this year because of their potential impact on remaining voters who still count themselves as undecided and because of the closeness of the race. Wayne Fields, director of American Culture Studies in Arts & Sciences, who specializes in presidential rhetoric, comments on the format of the event to be hosted by Washington University.

References:

1. Sept. 18, 2004 — Upcoming debates could prove pivotal in the Associated Press Online

and 5 others.

WUSTL's Steve Givens talks about the university's preparation for the Presidential debate in October. (Media Pulse text)

References:

1. Aug. 13, 2004 — Washington U. Prepares for the Debate in the KMOV-TV St. Louis

and 2 others.

Democrat John Kerry on Thursday accepted an independent commission's schedule for three presidential debates and one vice presidential showdown.
"These commission debates have become an important tradition in presidential campaigns and voters depend on them to help inform their choice," Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill said in a statement.
The second debate, on Oct. 8, 2004, would be a town hall-style format at Washington University in St. Louis where undecided voters question the candidates on any issue.

References:

1. July 15, 2004 — Kerry OKs debates; no word from Bush in the MSNBC

and 38 others.