Coverage of elections in America are now conducted as if the campaign was a horse race or a sports event; it’s all about who’s ahead and who’s behind, what the polls say, whether or not a particular act or thing has hurt or helped a candidate, etc. We can read all about who seems to have come out ahead or behind after a debate, but rarely will you read coverage of what was actually said during the debate. Good luck picking up your newspaper and finding out what the candidate’s positions are; good luck seeing a reporter ask a candidate about their positions instead of about their campaign.

Really? I’d be interested in some comparative examples. Not that I think any of the American Democrats are out and out Socialists (although some seem close), but then what the heck do you Kiwis have for a right wing?