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How to Debate Like a Presidential Frontrunner

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In today’s Washington Examiner, DMG President Beverly Hallberg discusses why debates matter, the Trump factor, and how the participants in tonight’s Republican debate on Fox News can be remembered for all the right reasons:

“No, it isn’t about the length of airtime (120 minutes tonight for the main debate). It’s about the sound bites that circulate in the 24-hours news cycle and on social media tonight, tomorrow and (potentially) for years to come. Those 10-second clips are why debates, even primary debates, matter.”

Here’s what the candidates, including Trump, need to keep in mind if they want to be remembered for the right reasons this debate season. Read the full article here.

B²: Sore Loser (SCOTUS Edition)

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No one likes a sore loser. Chances are, you probably fall into the “loser” camp for at least one of last week’s SCOTUS decisions.

While the decisions are often controversial – otherwise the case wouldn’t have been considered at the highest court – it rarely helps to spend the little time you have in your interview explaining the intricacies of why you think they were wrong.

Who said it best? Vote for which presidential candidate best spent his or her on-air time reacting to the SCOTUS ruling on marriage here.

Here’s a tip – leave the constitutional debate to the constitutional scholars. Complaining about a decision you can’t change will get you nowhere… fast.

So, do you know how to respond to questions about a SCOTUS decision without sounding like a sore loser?

Good thing it’s Tuesday, B² day.

Here is this week’s likely media question and the B² (block and bridge) that sets the narrative straight:

Q: “What are your thoughts on the SCOTUS decision in King v. Burwell?”

B²: “The Court has spoken about the language in ObamaCare, but what it wasn’t there to address was the effectiveness of ObamaCare. With increasing costs and concerns across this country, we know we must <insert talking point>.”

Wherever you take the conversation next, don’t get stuck in the past. Instead, look to the future of health care. While aspects of ObamaCare may be here to stay, focus on what can be done to improve quality of health care for all Americans. You can substitute language for other major SCOTUS rulings; the point is to be respectful, to acknowledge the Court’s limits, and then move to your role in influencing and/or shaping policy.

Solutions always trump problems!

B²: Fiorina and the “War on Women”

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Carly Fiorina is now an official presidential candidate after making her announcement in a “Good Morning America” interview yesterday. This makes her the second female to enter the race and the first candidate to challenge Hillary Clinton on the gender issue.

“If Hillary Clinton were to face a female nominee, there are a whole set of things that she won’t be able to talk about,” Fiorina said last month. “She won’t be able to talk about being the first woman president. She won’t be able to talk about a war on women without being challenged. She won’t be able to play the gender card.”

While Fiorina aims to dispel the gender myth, we are already seeing reports that the “War on Women” message cycle is alive and well.

If asked, do you know how to talk about the “War on Women?”

Good thing it’s Tuesday, B² day.

Here’s the likely media question and the B² (block and bridge) that sets the narrative straight:

Q: “With two women in the race, does this bring women’s issues, such as abortion, to the forefront?”

B2: “All issues are women’s issues. And what Americans care about, women and men alike, is <insert talking point>.”

Whether you talk about the economy, education, foreign policy, abortion, etc., make it clear that every issue affects women. Contrary to popular belief, women are not single-issue voters and it is demeaning to assume otherwise. Expand the conversation.

The next iteration of the 2016 War on Women attack cycle will manifest itself in talks of the “pay gap” and minimum wage. Both are important issues and should be part of any organization/candidate’s platform, but are you ready to B² (block and bridge) from a reporter’s questions on either issue to your answers? We’ll offer up a few suggestions in future posts. Stay tuned.

2016: B² Candidate Questions

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Sen. Rubio is now in the 2016 presidential campaign game. HRC tweeted her bid over the weekend. Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz are already in, and signals from many mean this campaign season is well under way.

Buzz generates opinions. The problem is, someone will inevitably solicit yours. And even if campaign laws aren’t an issue, corporate codes and/or offending a friend could be.

Inexperienced journalists may not know the limits of what you can say given the tax status of your workplace, but they sure know how to test the waters. Do you know how to avoid a direct question about the 2016 presidential candidates?

Good thing it’s Tuesday, B² day.

Here’s the likely media question and the B² (block and bridge) that sets the narrative straight:

Q: “Who do you think is the best candidate to run our country?”

B²: “Regardless of who wins the presidency, the main policy issue that needs attention is <insert talking point>.”

Wherever the interviewer goes on the candidate, take the answer back to policy. There is no need to predict or discuss who should win. That’s the campaign spokesperson’s job, and a tricky one at that. But, no candidate knows every issue as well as the issue-matter experts know it.

Use the question as an opportunity to highlight your specific expertise on the issue at hand, and educate viewers and listeners on what a solid candidate may do to set the country in the right direction. You never know who might be listening.

DMG in WashingtonExaminer.com: Chris Christie should let Americans in on his weight loss journey

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“If Governor Christie wants to connect with Americans on a national level, he needs something more than quotable sound bites. He needs to show he cares and understands the struggles of every day Americans, and I believe he can do that by opening up about his weight-loss journey on his own terms — something he still has yet to do.”

Find out how Gov. Christie can connect with more Americans in DMG president Beverly Hallberg’s recent WashingtonExaminer.com post.