Television may have most impact in '96 presidential politics Just before the Iowa caucus, GSJ reporter Richard P. Morin II sat down with Darrell West, professor of political science, to discuss presidential campaign '96.
Television is the most dominant factor in campaign development.
In the 1950s, three-quarters of Americans trusted government to do what is right. If you ask the identical question today, three-quarters of Americans mistrust public officials. It really is the most important public opinion change over the last 40 years. The most important thing so far has been the disenchantment with the Washington political establishment. The shutdown of the government continues to reverberate and really aggravates people beyond where they were previously.