U.S. ELECTIONS 2008

Democratic presidential hopefuls Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton at the Democratic primary debate in Coral Gables, Florida, in September 2007. (c) AP Images

A Fresh Start

An Interview with Charlie Cook and Jerry Hagstrom

The 2008 U.S. presidential election is unusual because neither an incumbent president nor vice president is running for the highest office in the land. In an interview with Bureau of International Information Programs staff writer Michelle Austein, two experts discuss this phenomenon and take a look at what else is in store for the 2008 election season. Charlie Cook is editor and publisher of the Cook Political Report, and Jerry Hagstrom is contributing editor of the National Journal.

Question: Can you tell us why Americans and international audiences are paying so much attention so early to the 2008 presidential race and why this race seems to be different than previous U.S. elections?

Cook: It's really the first one in 80 years that we haven't had a sitting president or vice president seeking the presidency. To have a wide-open race for both parties is really extraordinary.

Usually you have a president or vice president on one side that is generally going to win [his party's nomination] easily, or maybe just two people running, and then a big field of lots of candidates on the other side. This time, it's big fields on both sides. It's really an amazing election cycle. We have never seen anything like it.

Hagstrom: I think it's also both a fun race to watch and an important race for people in other countries. And it's important to start watching it earlier because it's so unclear who will be the candidates and, of course, who will finally win the election.

Q: Candidates began raising money earlier than in past elections. Part of the reason is that no incumbent is running. Are there other reasons?

Cook: It's harder and harder to reach voters than it used to be. Twenty and 30 years ago, you had three television networks, and you could pretty much reach everyone that way. Now with cable and satellite television and hundreds and hundreds of channels, and with a lot of other distractions, it's harder to reach voters; it's hard to get a message across to them.

Hagstrom: Many, many years ago, people used to campaign at big events, or they campaigned at big factories, and they got a big turnout. Today you can't do that. You have to realize that Americans are working in offices. They don't really turn out for these big events. So you have to reach people through television and radio, and that requires money to buy advertising. (more)