"Clay Aiken for president? Well… not quite yet. But a new reality show is boldly considering the possibility. Showtime's new reality drama "American Candidate" suggests the idea that our nation's next president could be discovered through a televised elimination match in the same manner that America's next pop idol, Donald Trump's next successor or even the woman "most worthy to marry my dad" recently have been.

This past Sunday, June 20, the University's Center for Politics hosted a taping of "American Candidate" in Old Cabell Hall, where the show's seven remaining candidates publicly debated social issues. The taping is part of a 10-episode series airing on Showtime between August and October.

Although the show's premise is daring, it is not that farfetched. "It is actually surprising that it took this long for politics to become packaged into a reality television show. The whole idea of contestants having a grassroots background and of a winner being picked for their popularity is very conducive to politics," said Matt Smyth, director of communications for the Center for Politics.

While on the one hand imagining that the most powerful person in the world could be chosen from a reality show may seem a bit presumptuous, at the same time, it is worth considering the "democracy" behind such a non-traditional political race.

For instance, all of the individuals competing on "American Candidate" are ordinary but passionate people, and none of them enter the race to become the "People's Candidate" with any monetary advantage over their competitors. Additionally, producers and crewmembers are dedicated to maintaining a fair contest and stressed the importance of keeping certain details about the show confidential so the playing field is even for all contestants.

Airing in the late summer of 2004, the 10-episode arc will run in conjunction with America's actual presidential race. On each episode, contests battle each other in a series of "political competitions" designed to test their electoral savvy. After slowly eliminating potential candidates, the series finale will culminate with the two remaining candidates engaged in a debate. The winner of the show will be named the "People's Candidate" and will be awarded $200,000, as well as given the chance to make a public address to the nation via a nationwide media broadcast.

Although the show's executives don't guarantee or assume that the elected "People's Candidate" will also run for president, it is a possibility. Should the candidate desire the position, as well as satisfy national requirements to be president, producers hope that the monetary award combined with the fame and publicity from the show will enable the "People's Candidate" the opportunity to enter the presidential race.

In designing the show, producers were hoping to create a program that would become a new forum for politically active individuals to enter the political world. The Center for Politics, a non-profit institute guided by the belief that "government works better when politics work better," likewise saw the same benefits in hosting the show over the weekend. Smyth, in particular, sees the presence of shows such as "American Candidate" as being just another non-traditional method of increasing youth participation in the political process.

"Many of the older, more traditional methods of attracting voters just aren't reaching the younger demographics," Smyth said. "Interestingly, though, in recent years it's been the more non-traditional, entertainment-based voting movements that have made an impact in the 18-30 crowd -- MTV's Rock the Vote and WWF Smackdown Your Vote, for example. It's not a question that 'American Candidate' is chiefly for entertainment value. However, if in the process of watching the show viewers gain a little more information on how politics work in this country, then that's a good thing, in regard to increasing the public's knowledge of their government."

On Sunday, University politics Prof. Larry Sabato, who co-moderated the debate alongside host Montel Williams, shared similar sentiments. Commenting on the reality that "half of Americans don't even vote," Sabato suggested that the experimentation of unusual tactics might be necessary in order to revitalize public participation in the political process.

University students were likewise involved in the event, serving not only as production assistants and assistant crewmembers but also as audience members and candidate questioners. Those who attended the taping were intrigued by Sabato's perspective, but had varying opinions of their own in regard to the possibility that the presidential race might eventually be determined by a reality TV show.

Drew Butler, a 2004 University graduate, commented, "I think that this show should primarily exist as a reflection of the actual election, and should only encourage thought and illuminate issues."

Bryan King, another 2004 graduate, agreed. "I think the most important part of this debate is stimulating people's thoughts and interests in issues that they might have otherwise not have been exposed to. So often political debate is limited to certain issues, but the town hall format of this show allows the airing of a variety of different views. Hopefully this will motivate people to do more research and independent learning about government and issues that are important to them, which will in the end lead to better, more intelligent political participation."

Can we expect to see the real presidential candidates face off in a reality show series in 2008? It's a little too soon to start predicting that right now. Either way, it will be interesting to see the University featured on cable television, as well as the ways in which "American Candidate" might affect the political race between Bush and Kerry when it debuts in early August. Perhaps Clay will make his run in 2008." (Jennifer O'Connor, The Cavalier Daily, June 24, 2004)