O.O.P.S.

Combining humor and wisdom this timely volume examines how presidential campaigns canand often havebecome undone by an unguarded comment an unintentional misrepresentation or an unwise initiative.Almost every politician has occasionally misspoken sometimes with disastrous effect sometimes with little effect at all. O.O.P.S.: Observing Our Politicians Stumble: The Worst Candidate Gaffes and Recoveries in Presidential Campaigns observes and analyzes this phenomenon to document why some gaffes prove fatal while others are easily survivedbining humor with a thorough knowledge of American politics author Stephen Frantzich uses detailed vignettes to showcase a wide range of slipups committed by presidential candidates from 1968 through 2008. He looks at what really happened in each case as well as whether the video and reportage accurately reflected what was said or done. By delving into the reasons the media and the public react to gaffes as they do this thoroughly entertaining analysis provides fresh insights into the workings of presidential campaigns and the roles of candidates their handlers the media and the voting public underscoring among other things how the media revolution has changed the landscape of presidential campaigns.