The_Race

The Race If politics is the application of influence and authority then an election is the application of that influence to win the vote of the citizens. Many things from finances to current civic topics and from political background to political denomination determine the outcome and/or circumstances of elections, but the most influential election tool is, and has been, the media. The use and misuse of the media, political advertisements and televised debates has been known to win or lose an election. In the late 1990’s Patrick Kennedy decided to run for the House of Representatives, in Congress. After winning the primary, Kennedy would have only one opponent, Dr. Kevin Vigilante. At 39 years old Vigilante had an excellent background that included John Hopkins University and dozens of medical clinics. At 28 years old Patrick Kennedy was a typical political Kennedy with the drive to carry on the family legacy of public service. The media embraced this Kennedy-mania and Patrick Kennedy won the election 54-56, only 8 percentage points ahead. Kennedy won the election with money and influence in his left pocket and bulging out of his right pocket was the media. At first glance of this election it would seem as kennedy, vigilante, election, media, won, political, patrick, influence, win, negative, ads, through, citizens, years, several, polls, one, money, kennedy’s, fundraising, embraced, debate, caroline, campaign, watching, vote, turned, promise, pocket, phone, out, old, news, name, made