2012 Presidential Debate Watch Party and Panel Discussion at JFK Jr. Forum

October 5, 2012

By Jenny Li Fowler

It was a packed house in the JFK Jr. Forum Wednesday, Oct. 3 for the 1st 2012 Presidential Debate. The watch party followed a panel discussion moderated by Institute of Politics Director Trey Grayson.

The discussion, “From Prep to the Podium: Behind the Scenes of the Presidential Debates,” featured several former IOP Fellows: Brett O’Donnell, Bachmann for President Campaign chief strategist; Mark McKinnon, former chief media advisor to George W. Bush; and Tad Devine, Democratic political and media strategist. 1992 Presidential Debate Moderator Carole Simpson also participated on the panel.

After the debate the panel took questions from the audience and from twitter.

Vice Presidential Debate Watch Party
forum.iop.harvard.edu

A peek behind the podium
Harvard Gazette — Presidential debates make for great political theater, a passable night of television viewing for even the most apathetic voter.

But for the candidates, they’re the culmination of weeks of rhetorical blood, mental sweat, and, sometimes, literally tears.

In other words, a group of veteran presidential preppers said at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Wednesday night, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney might be forgiven for betraying brief signs of fatigue or annoyance in that evening’s first presidential debate.read more

Photo Credit: Martha Stewart

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