Approximately 250, mostly students, listened as panelists Maggie Haberman of the New York Times, former RNC chairman Michael Steele, former DNC chairman and Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe, Cook Political Report’s Amy Walter, and Brunswick Group partners Patti Solis Doyle and Jonathan Burks dished on the Democratic primaries and the possibility of unseating Donald Trump.
“The press is no longer the gatekeeper,” said Haberman. “We are just covering what’s in front of us and the voters are going to do what they’re going to do with it.”
The panel agreed that the power of national parties and the media are being challenged by new technologies that allow politicians to take their case directly to the people.
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(L to R) Mo Elleithee, GU Politics Executive Director - Moderator; Jonathan Burks, Brunswick Group Partner, former GU Politics Fellow; Patti Solis Doyle, Brunswick Group Partner; Terry McAuliffe (D-Va.), former Governor of Virginia; Michael Steele, former Republican National Committee Chairman; Maggie Haberman, New York Times White House Correspondent; Amy Walter, Cook Political Report National Editor |
“Politics has changed,” said Solis Doyle. “The way we measure politics, the metrics by which we measure, that’s different. We can’t measure accurately anymore. The way we receive information has changed; the way we disseminate information has changed.”
Solis Doyle, a veteran presidential campaign strategist, and Burks, former chief of staff to Speaker Paul Ryan, are recent additions to Brunswick’s D.C. office.
“The Road to 2020” discussion was held Feb. 26 at Georgetown University's Copley Formal Lounge. Brunswick partnered on the event with the school's Institute of Politics and Public Service.
A recording is available here.
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