The Kid Who Ran for President

Throughout The Kid Who Ran for President, the media plays a significant role in Judson’s campaign and the overall election process. With all the attention given to appearances and showing people what they want to see, Lane remarks that the presidential race “might as well be selling soap” (5). The way media covers the election, events and promotions, and Judson’s image shows how the election becomes entertainment in the public eye.

Many news stories that involve the election contain information that is, at best, tangentially related to the election itself. In Chapter 18, Judson remembers a story about President White’s dog pooping during an event. Rather than the president’s remarks or the event's details, the dog’s action is what made the news. The video of the dog also became a YouTube sensation, prompting the president’s approval rating to drop. The Moongate scandal also shows how the most insignificant items become newsworthy. While stealing papers could be serious, things like changing a pet’s name have no bearing on the election. They are news because, alongside the more important issues, they evoke emotion and are entertaining. Entertainment value is equally, if not more, important than the facts of the election.