The Gist

Bill Clinton’s Advance Man Tells All

When you look at a presidential campaign as theater, every hat and private plane becomes part of the set.

Just one image can completely shape how we think of a presidential nominee. For example, here’s John Kerry windsurfing in 2004.

Hector Mata/AFP/Getty Images

Listen to Episode 478 of Slate’s The Gist:

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On The Gist, Mike offers keen insight into Sheldon Silver. Then, which Republican presidential nominee is nailing visual optics? Josh King joins us to explain why the visuals and headlines are becoming increasingly important for political campaigns. He’s the author of Off Script: An Advance Man’s Guide to White House Stagecraft, Campaign Spectacle, and Political Suicide. For the Spiel, the Google Play app introduces Mike to ’90s agro anthems. Listen to find out what happened next.

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