Just when you think politics is all for show ...

By Siobhan McDonough
The Associated Press

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WASHINGTON — Reality television has made stars of barely dressed people competing for $1 million, singers competing for recording contracts, bachelors and bachelorettes competing for love. So why not political candidates stumping for viewer votes?

More than three years after CBS began airing the reality TV phenomenon "Survivor," Showtime Networks wants to launch a simulated presidential campaign, to be shown when the actual presidential campaign is heating up next summer. Showtime and CBS are owned by Viacom.

"American Candidate" would feature regular citizens competing in campaign events until one emerges the winner.

Bryan Byrd, vice president of publicity at Showtime, stressed the program is in the planning stages. "It's something that is being explored," he said. "It isn't a done deal."

As it considers whether to proceed with the idea, Viacom is awaiting an answer from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on whether the program could violate election laws.

Showtime said the show would offer a look at the decision-making processes and strains of political campaigns. Candidates each week would plot campaign strategy, campaign for support, respond to e-mails from viewers and make statements aimed at winning public support.

Contestants would make speeches and participate in debates and press conferences, some authentic, some staged. They also would devise campaign strategies, produce TV ads, consult with advisers, choose policy positions and try to build public support. Candidates could solicit contributions but would have to give the money to charity.

At the end of each episode, viewers could vote for their favorite candidate by phone or on the Internet. The 10- to 12-week series would end with one winner, based on weekly popular votes, polling samples and program judges.

R.J. Cutler, director of "The War Room," a documentary about Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, would produce the project with Jay Roach, director of the "Austin Powers" movies.

Among the concerns the election commission may address: What if the winner becomes so popular he or she runs for real public office? What if the winner endorses an actual candidate? What if the contestants use their platform to promote or disparage President Bush or his Democratic opponent?

"I don't know what it says about the state of American politics that you might have to get people interested through a reality series," said Larry Noble, head of the Center for Responsive Politics and former FEC general counsel. "But if it gets more people interested in the real campaign, it's not a bad thing."

Noble said the show might pose troubling issues for the FEC, but he predicted the commission probably would say the series is clear of election laws. He said the FEC probably would only warn Showtime to tell the faux candidates not to endorse real candidates.

Viacom said it is not the show's intent to advance or defeat any real candidate. But the program is unscripted and real candidates might be invited on, so the real presidential campaign could be a subject of discussion.

Viacom said a contestant would be removed from the show if he or she became a candidate in a federal, state or local election during the series. But the company said it could not control what happened after the series ends.

"This FEC is more deregulation-oriented, so I expect they have less problems with this," Noble said.

Showtime also has asked if its investment in the show could be judged a campaign contribution to the winner if that person decided to use his or her fame to bid for public office down the road. And it wants to make sure that commentary by contestants would not be seen as improper advocacy for or against real candidates.

A bipartisan advisory board for "American Candidate" would include former Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska; Elaine Kamarck, who advised Democrat Al Gore's presidential campaign; former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming; and Ron Nessen, who was press secretary to Republican President Ford.

The FX cable network in September 2002 said it would air the show but later bailed out, citing cost concerns.

Copyright © 2003 The Seattle Times Company