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Presidential campaign gets an early, crowded start
The calendar says February 2007, but politicians who want to succeed President Bush act as though it’s already the 2008 election year. And plenty of them are jostling for early positions in a campaign race that’s a long marathon. At least 20 declared and preparing-to-declare candidates from both major parties have web sites, campaign staffs, fund-raisers and are hustling for donations, endorsements, news coverage and voter interest – though most normal Americans are not focusing closely yet on a decision that’s 21 months away. The field is jammed with nine Democrats and 11 Republicans mainly because President Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney are not running, so each party’s nomination is wide open for the first time since 1928 – the last time no sitting president or vice-president sought the top job. (Bush is finishing his second term, the maximum allowed. Cheney is 66 and doesn’t want to run.) Recent weeks have brought candidacy announcements by three senators -- Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on the Democratic side, Sam Brownback on the Republican -- and one Governor, Democrat Bill Richardson of New Mexico.
Front Page Talking Points is written by
Felix Grabowski and Alan Stamm for NIEonline.com, Copyright 2013
We welcome comments or suggestions for future topics: Click here to Comment Front Page Talking Points Archive►Federal safety board urges tougher drinking-and-driving cutoff limit to match other nations ►Northeast braces for noisy invasion: Flying cicada bugs return after hiding for 17 years ►U.S. military prison at Guantanamo, Cuba, remains a tricky problem for President Obama ►Doctors warn about serious health risks from 'The Cinnamon Challenge' video craze ►Earth Day on April 22 focuses attention on how we can protect the natural environment ►Thousands of past players take on the National Football League over brain injuries ►North Korean missile threats create concern and U.S. show of military force ►South Africa reflects on the huge legacy of Nelson Mandela, hospitalized at 94 ►They come from space: NASA seeks money to spot and deflect risks from large asteroids ►This 'March Madness' basketball tournament season is special – the 75th in history |
Newspapers try to help readers understand the importance behind political news and learn how developments affect them or their communities. Invite the classroom of future voters to see how well this paper does in explaining any recent news report from city hall, the state capital or Washington, D.C. Are various sides explained clearly? Is the language used easy to grasp? Are there comments from people affected by an issue?
Just because politics is serious stuff doesn’t mean all coverage is dry and dull. Challenge students to find an article, photo or cartoon about an elected official or presidential candidate that shows something about the politician’s personality, interests or casual side.
The print edition isn’t the only source for presidential campaign coverage and other politics news. See how many related features pupils can find on the paper’s website, such as blogs, polls, coverage archives and perhaps lists of current local elected officials. 
Historic prospect: For the first time, credible contenders give voters a chance to make history by electing the first woman President (Clinton) or the first African American (Obama) or the first Latino (Richardson) or the first Mormon (Mitt Romney, a Republican ex-governor of Massachusetts.)