This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/16/us-presidential-debate-dummies
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Presidential debate dummies to include John Kerry and ex-solicitor general | Presidential debate dummies to include John Kerry and ex-solicitor general |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Finally, the lineup for the US presidential election in November has been decided: the Republicans have nominated John Kerry and his running mate Chris Van Hollen, who will go head-to-head against the White House incumbent Rob Portman and his vice-president Ted Olson. | Finally, the lineup for the US presidential election in November has been decided: the Republicans have nominated John Kerry and his running mate Chris Van Hollen, who will go head-to-head against the White House incumbent Rob Portman and his vice-president Ted Olson. |
| The four men are indeed the 2012 presidential candidates, though they are taking on the roles more as actors than as politicians. They have been chosen by the actual candidates – Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, Barack Obama and Joe Biden – to play their rivals in mock debate sessions ahead of next month's TV debates. | The four men are indeed the 2012 presidential candidates, though they are taking on the roles more as actors than as politicians. They have been chosen by the actual candidates – Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, Barack Obama and Joe Biden – to play their rivals in mock debate sessions ahead of next month's TV debates. |
| Over the weekend we learned the identity of the final member of the four. Ted Olson, who held the post of solicitor general under George Bush, will wear the shoes of Joe Biden in preparatory sessions with the real Republican vice-presidential nominee, Paul Ryan. | Over the weekend we learned the identity of the final member of the four. Ted Olson, who held the post of solicitor general under George Bush, will wear the shoes of Joe Biden in preparatory sessions with the real Republican vice-presidential nominee, Paul Ryan. |
| He joins Rob Portman, who plays Obama as Romney's sparring partner; Kerry who conversely plays Romney in mock debating sessions with Obama; and Van Hollen who has been given the role of Ryan as Biden prepares for the debates. | He joins Rob Portman, who plays Obama as Romney's sparring partner; Kerry who conversely plays Romney in mock debating sessions with Obama; and Van Hollen who has been given the role of Ryan as Biden prepares for the debates. |
| Since the first dramatic TV debate in September 1960, in which Richard Nixon put forward a disastrously sweaty performance against John F Kennedy, the importance of preparing for the events has grown into an entire industry. | Since the first dramatic TV debate in September 1960, in which Richard Nixon put forward a disastrously sweaty performance against John F Kennedy, the importance of preparing for the events has grown into an entire industry. |
| The role of sparring partner has grown in importance by equal measure, and the role is now taken very seriously indeed – even more so this year in a tightly fought race when so much is potentially riding on the debates. | The role of sparring partner has grown in importance by equal measure, and the role is now taken very seriously indeed – even more so this year in a tightly fought race when so much is potentially riding on the debates. |
| A good debating partner will help the real candidates hone their messages and avoid nasty surprises. Portman, who is recognised as a leading exponent of the art, spends hours preparing himself for the role, watching videos of the politicians he is playing over and over until he knows their every policy position as intimately as their mannerisms. | A good debating partner will help the real candidates hone their messages and avoid nasty surprises. Portman, who is recognised as a leading exponent of the art, spends hours preparing himself for the role, watching videos of the politicians he is playing over and over until he knows their every policy position as intimately as their mannerisms. |
| Such is the exacting nature of the work – which involves a capacity to memorise enormous amounts of policy detail combined with skills as a debater and performer – it is no surprise that three of the four are legally trained. | Such is the exacting nature of the work – which involves a capacity to memorise enormous amounts of policy detail combined with skills as a debater and performer – it is no surprise that three of the four are legally trained. |
| Olson has presented 58 cases before the US supreme court including the highly controversial Bush v Gore in 2000 which handed the election to Bush even though he lost the popular vote. | Olson has presented 58 cases before the US supreme court including the highly controversial Bush v Gore in 2000 which handed the election to Bush even though he lost the popular vote. |
| Portman practiced in commercial law, and Kerry was a prosecutor in Massachusetts. Van Hollen is the odd one out: though he has no legal experience, his value to Biden is that he is knows Paul Ryan's foibles inside out. | Portman practiced in commercial law, and Kerry was a prosecutor in Massachusetts. Van Hollen is the odd one out: though he has no legal experience, his value to Biden is that he is knows Paul Ryan's foibles inside out. |
| A Democratic representative for a district of Maryland in the US Congress, Van Hollen has has the chance to study Ryan at close quarters for years. They both sit on the House budget committee that Ryan chairs. | A Democratic representative for a district of Maryland in the US Congress, Van Hollen has has the chance to study Ryan at close quarters for years. They both sit on the House budget committee that Ryan chairs. |
| The exposure will help him master the finer details of Ryan's political beliefs, which in turn could assist Biden identify weaknesses in his position that he will attempt to probe during the single vice-presidential debate on 11 October in Danville Kentucky. | The exposure will help him master the finer details of Ryan's political beliefs, which in turn could assist Biden identify weaknesses in his position that he will attempt to probe during the single vice-presidential debate on 11 October in Danville Kentucky. |
| Van Hollen has indicated that he is also trying to get on top of Ryan's peculiarly emotive facial and body expressions that he displays in debate, all the better to portray him during the dummy sessions. | Van Hollen has indicated that he is also trying to get on top of Ryan's peculiarly emotive facial and body expressions that he displays in debate, all the better to portray him during the dummy sessions. |
| "I got my lines," Van Hollen said recently when asked how he was getting on with the role of Ryan. "I've got to work on my gestures." | "I got my lines," Van Hollen said recently when asked how he was getting on with the role of Ryan. "I've got to work on my gestures." |
| The presidential candidates have three TV debates, in Denver Colorado on 3 October; Hempstead New York on 16 October; and Boca Raton Florida on 22 October. Given the intense pressure on all the candidates – real and dramatic alike – it is no surprise that the dummy debates can get quite heated. | The presidential candidates have three TV debates, in Denver Colorado on 3 October; Hempstead New York on 16 October; and Boca Raton Florida on 22 October. Given the intense pressure on all the candidates – real and dramatic alike – it is no surprise that the dummy debates can get quite heated. |
| "You kinda swing back and forth," Portman told CNN. "I mean, nothing physical, although it's come close at times." | "You kinda swing back and forth," Portman told CNN. "I mean, nothing physical, although it's come close at times." |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |