On the Line: The New Road to the White House

I just finished this book yesterday. It was light, interesting, and insightful on its subject, that is, how all-news programming (CNN) changed the way national political campaigns are run. The change, according to King, occurred during the 1992 presidential campaign when Ross Perot was a frequent guest on "Larry King Live." It was from this exposure that Perot launched his grass roots independent campaign for President of the United States. Bill Clinton recognized the power of the medium for discussing his platform and communicating his ideas. George Bush was reluctant to seem "unpresidential" by appearing on these "weird talk shows," which added to the perception that he was "out of touch." At the center of the changes in political campaigning sat King, an amiable interviewer if there ever was one. While criticized for not asking "hardball" questions by Mike Wallace and the like (Who?), King explains that he is not a journalist, but an interviewer. In my opinion, this look at the 1992 presidential campaign is as useful for its insight as Carville and Matalin's "All's Fair." This is a fast read, and an inside look at the candidates in a forum where they are most exposed.