SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
The latest national presidential poll puts Romney two points ahead of President Obama among likely voters. But, if you're wondering where this race ranks among the presidential campaigns throughout history, then you only need to speak to one person.
Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin has written books about Lyndon Johnson, John F. Kennedy, FDR, and Abraham Lincoln.
Ask Goodwin to name her least favorite part of any political campaign, and she won't mince words. Doris Kearns Goodwin, Presidential Historian says, "Anything is better than the ads! Anything is better than the ads for how we make a decision about who we want as our president."
Among the most important parts of this campaign? The debates. But, Goodwin says it's a lot different than it used to be. Doris Kearns Goodwin, Presidential Historian says, "One of the things that happened in this most-recent debate was that Bob Scheiffer said, 'I want a cone of silence in he room.' In those debates with Lincoln and Douglas, the audience was absolutely a part of it. They'd be yelling out 'hit him again, hit him again, harder!' as if it were a football game." Politicians were entertainment. Doris Kearns Goodwin, Presidential Historian says, "We didn't have sports. We didn't have movies. So, you expected your politicians to be up there on the stage entertaining you."
Goodwin says it's much more civil now. This time around, she says President Obama has a legacy to protect. Doris Kearns Goodwin, Presidential Historian says, "No matter what happens, if he does lose, he still will have the legacy of being the first African-American president. That's there for history, forever."
And, Goodwin says the president risks something else in losing. Doris Kearns Goodwin, Presidential Historian says, "If he loses what would be hard is if health care bill were to get repealed by Mr. Romney. That was his signature accomplishment."
But, if Mitt Romney, who's a Mormon, wins then history will be made, again. Doris Kearns Goodwin, Presidential Historian says, "At the beginning, they had these polls, which showed 20% of the people, or some odd, would never vote for somebody who was a Mormon. And, it hasn't even become a part of the conversation in these last months."
