Press Talk: The media and the election

Sarah Palin Ordinary person in extraordinary times

‘Will it play in Peoria?”

This famous phrase actually originated during the days of vaudeville with this premise: If a new traveling show was a success in Peoria, Ill., it would be successful anywhere in the country.

Later, politicians picked it up. President Nixon’s staff used it during campaigning: If the people of Peoria bought into a political point, the rest of the country would as well.

Peoria held almost legendary status as a test market.

I thought about Peoria — and Clark County — when I looked at the results of the presidential race.

Nationally, Sen. Barack Obama beat Sen. John McCain 53 percent to 46 percent. In Clark County, Obama beat McCain 52 percent to 46 percent.

Arguably, no other county in Washington state came as close to the exact national number.

Interesting, huh?

So I was thinking that folks should begin to use Clark County as a new national test site. It could be a big boost to our economy.

Have you got a new candy bar or toaster or national slogan? Bring it.

First we’ll need a phrase as catchy as “Will it play in Peoria?”

You know, something like “If it clicks in Clark County.” Your thoughts? “Will it (blank) in Vancouver or Battle Ground or La Center?”

Go to www.columbian.com and use the comment section under my column to give us some ideas. I’ll be there — on and off — to comment on the suggestions.

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Speaking of elections, The Columbian’s front-page election coverage received national attention from The Newseum.

The Newseum is a $450 million, 250,000 square-foot news museum in Washington, D.C. If you’re into watching the Sunday political shows, ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” is taped at the Newseum.

The Newseum made a video of a couple of dozen front pages from this historic election.

The Columbian was one of those front pages.

The headline for Barack Obama’s election was crucial to the overall strength of our front page. So we talked about it a lot when we planned our election coverage. My headline suggestion? “Historic.”

Eventually, a collaborative effort by our copy desk produced something better:

“Change has come.”

And that is likely what got us the national recognition.

If you go to www.columbian.com, you can see the video.

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Most all of those who lose become yesterday’s news.

And so it is with defeated vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Or is it?

A quick view of news shows finds Palin on TV more than Seinfeld reruns.

Why is that, considering she mostly avoided interviews during the campaign? Well, Palin is in rehabilitation mode. And the national media are going along not because they want to help with her rehabilitation but because they view her as a curiosity.

Palin appears to be a normal person who got thrown into this mess with no real preparation. So I have empathy for her.

But in the end, being normal — sort of like you and me — did her in.

That’s because the country was not looking for an ordinary person to lead us. Some politicians wrongly believe we want an ordinary person to be president because they believe an ordinary person will understand ordinary people. But when an ordinary person tries to lead ordinary people … at best we get ordinary results. No, I believe we’re looking for an extraordinary person who understands ordinary people.

Lou Brancaccio is The Columbian’s editor. Reach him at 360-735-4505 or lou.brancaccio@columbian.com.