The scripts are available for printing and for sound bite identification.
Go to http://www.wichita.edu/newsline to get the current Wichita State University Newsline. If you cannot access the Newsline at the Web address above, contact Joe Kleinsasser at (316) 978-3013 or cell (316) 204-8266 or joe.kleinsasser@wichita.edu. Newsline cuts may be edited to suit your needs.
If you have additional questions for Mel Kahn after listening to the WSU Newsline, please contact him at (316) 978-7136 or melvin.kahn@wichita.edu.
Background:
The presidential debates are history, but there’s still plenty of campaigning to do as President Obama and Mitt Romney sprint to Election Day, especially in the too-close-to-call battleground states. Wichita State University political scientist Mel Kahn looks at the upcoming election and talks about states that could determine the outcome.
Voice wrap:
Announcer: Many political pundits believe President Obama has a good chance of being re-elected, but the presidential election between Obama and Mitt Romney will ultimately be determined by several too-close-to call battleground states. Wichita State University political scientist Mel Kahn looks at some key states that will go a long way in determining the outcome of the election.
Kahn: “In order to win, Romney absolutely has to win two of the three big electoral states that are in play, namely Florida, Virginia and Ohio. And it would even be better for him if he could win all three because of the advantage that Obama has.”
Announcer: Kahn also says it is not inconceivable that the winner of the popular vote could lose the electoral vote, as occurred with Al Gore in the 2000 election. This is Joe Kleinsasser at Wichita State University.
Sound bite #1
Kahn says the Democrats start out ahead in the electoral vote, with the likelihood of New York and California voting for President Obama. The sound bite is 17 seconds and the outcue is “out of the gate.”
Kahn: “Since Obama can start out banking on the huge numbers of electoral votes in California, which amount to 55, and New York 29, that gives him 84 electoral votes right out of the gate.”
Sound bite #2
Kahn says it’s possible that a candidate could win the popular vote in the upcoming election and lose the electoral vote. The sound bite is 9 seconds and the outcue is “year 2000.”
Kahn: “It it not inconceivable that the winner of the popular vote could lose the electoral vote, as occurred with Gore in the year 2000.”
Sound bite #3
Kahn explains why the United States uses an electoral college in determining the presidential election. The sound bite is 17 seconds and the outcue is “unto themselves.”
Kahn: “Originally there was real consternation about how we should elect our president. There were about 35 different plans that were offered. And the founders were also concerned about our federalism of representing states as entities unto themselves.”
Sound bite #4
Kahn explains why a presidential election based on popular vote would be problematic. The sound bite is 16 seconds and the outcue is “intentional and unintentional.”
Kahn: “Basically, particularly when we have otherwise close appearing elections, we could have long litigation where each candidate would be trying to up its votes, and there always are errors, both intentional and unintentional.”
Sound bite #5
Kahn says voters in Kansas should still get out and vote on Election Day, even though the state usually votes Republican. The sound bite is 24 seconds and the outcue is “out of Kansas.”
Kahn: “There are other important races. In fact, what occurs at the state level has more impact on our everyday lives. Also, too, as far as the presidential race goes, Kansas did go Democratic in 1964, and so it is not just automatic that we’ll always have a Republican vote out of Kansas."