Road to the White House
An Academic Course Examining the Issues & Themes Shaping the 2012 Campaign
A Partnership of TWC, C-SPAN, George Mason University & Purdue University Fall 2011 & 2012
Course Description
This course will give students the opportunity to study the 2012 presidential campaign as it takes shape around them. Students will examine the issues influencing the American political landscape, and how both social and traditional media determines the winners and losers. With an incumbent president seeking re-election, it is a special opportunity to study in-depth how the President's public policy agenda is affecting the presidential race. Students will examine topics such as:
- Polling
- Campaign advertising
- Targeted messaging
- Focus group strategies
- Debates
Class Format
One hour of each class will be devoted to interviews and discussion with special guests, which will be recorded and televised through one or more of C-SPAN's channels or other outlets. The class will also reconstruct the historical development of the current political scene, affording students a better understanding of how candidates interact with voters and how they develop the political messaging behind every speech, slogan and phrase on the campaign trail.
HOST/PROFESSOR BIO
Steven L. Scully [2] is the School of Communication and Office of the Provost’s Faculty in Residence in Washington, D.C. and is the Amos B. Hostetter, Jr. Chair in the School of Communications at the University of Denver.
SCHEDULE AND BIOS
The 2012 Presidential Election [3], Oct. 29
Geoff Garin talked about the 2012 presidential election.
Evolution of Presidential Debates [4], Oct. 22
Stephen Farnsworth, Robert Lichter, Rob Ritchie, and Carolyn Curiel talked about the candidates' performances in the first two presidential debates between President Obama and Mitt Romney, and analyzed prior presidential debates as well.
Role of the News Media in Elections [5], Oct. 15
George Mason University professor Robert Lichter conducted a discussion on the role of the news media in elections.
Evolution of Political Advertising [6], Sept. 24
Thom Mozloom, founder and president of the M Network, discussed campaign ads.
Role of Debates in the Political Process [7], Sept. 24
Newt Minow talked about the evolution and role of debates in the political process, and how they are affected by the quickly changing landscape of the media.
Key Moments of the 2008 Presidential Campaign [8], Sept. 17
John Heilemann, co-author of the New York Times bestseller Game Change, talks about some of the story lines and key moments from the 2008 election that were outlined in his book.
Political Landscape for the 2012 Elections [9], Sept. 10
Roger Simon, the Chief Political Columnist at POLITICO, talks about the political landscape for the 2012 elections.
"Nightly News Nightmare [10]", April 23
George Mason University Communications Professor Bob Lichter discusses his book, "Nightly News Nightmare"
Politics of the South [11], April 16
Former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder talked about Southern politics
Money and Politics [12], April 16
FEC Commissioner Cynthia Bauerly Discusses the Role of Money in Political Races
Presidential Debates [13], April 9
Commission on Presidential Debates Exec. Dir. Janet Brown Discusses Presidential Debates
Presidential Election Polling [14], April 2
Gallup Polls Editor in Chief Frank Newport Discusses Presidential Election Polling
Douglas Wilder on Changing Presidential Advisors [15], March 26
Douglas Wilder, Former Governor of Virginia Discusses Changing Presidential Advisors
Presidential Campaign Ads [16], March 19
Darrell West, VP and Director of Governance Studies at Brookings Discusses Political Advertising
The 2012 Political Landscape [17], March 12
Craig Crawford, Former Orlando Sentinel Washington Bureau Chief Discusses the 2012 Political Landscape
Dan Balz and Michael Steele on the Ohio Primary [18], March 5
Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele and Washington Post Political Correspondent Dan Balz on 2012 Ohio Primary
Social & New Media in Presidential Campaigns [19], Feb. 27
Lee Rainie, Pew Internet & American Life Project Director on Social & New Media in Presidential Campaigns
Candidacy of Hubert H. Humphrey [20], Feb. 20
Filmmaker Mick Caouette on His Film "Hubert H Humphrey: The Art of the Possible"
Richard Nixon's 1968 Campaign [21], Feb. 13
Pat Buchanan on Richard Nixon's 1968 Campaign
Lessons from the Tea Party Movement [22], Feb. 6
Theda Skocpol, Harvard Professor and Peter Maer, CBS News White House Correspondent
Women in Modern American Politics [23], Nov. 28
Tiffany Dufu, President of the White House Project
Polls and Focus Groups [24], Nov. 21
Peter Hart, President of Hart Research Associates
The Role of the News Media in Presidential Elections [25], Nov. 14
Stephen Farnsworth, Communication Professor at GMU
Six Men Who Failed in Their Presidential Campaigns [26], Nov. 7
Richard Norton Smith, Presidential Historian
Parties, Politics and Public Policy in America [27], Oct. 24
Mark Hetherington, Professor of Political Science – Vanderbilt University
Money & Politics: Nixon [28], Oct. 17
Sheila Krumholz, Executive Director, Center for Responsive Politics
Road to the White House 2008: Obama vs. McCain – Lessons from the McCain Campaign [29],
Oct. 3
Charlie Black, Republican Party Strategist
Presidential Primaries: Lessons from the Past & What to Expect in 2012 [30], Sept. 26
Mark Halperin, Co-Author, Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime & Senior Political Analyst, MSNBC & Time Magazine
Bipartisanship in Congress [31], Sept. 19
Former Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Trent Lott (R-MS)
Road to the White House 1976: Carter vs. Ford – How Jimmy Carter Won [32], Sept. 14
Gerald Rafshoon, Media Strategist, ’76 Carter for President & Fmr. White House Communications Director
