Presidential candidates and their aides know a lot these days about how to run a campaign. They just seem to have forgotten what campaigns are for.
They’re immensely sophisticated about targeting and messaging. They know how to drive the news cycle — or at least, try to — and they know where to focus their resources. They control the candidate, shape his every public foray to make him look good, and try their best to make sure he’s not subject to inconvenient questions or cross examination. When “gaffes” happen, as they are bound to do, they move quickly to minimize the fallout.
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