Transcript of a chat with Globe national political editor James Smith

National political editor James Smith chatted with readers about how they think the Boston Globe and Boston.com should cover the 2008 presidential race.

James Smith: Thanks for taking the time to join the chat. The Globe and boston.com are currently thinking through our 2008 campaign coverage plans. We know we need to try new things and engage with our readers and viewers in different ways. So it seemed to make sense to ask you what you'd like us to do more of, less of, and what kinds of issues you care most about.

MassDem: Thank you!

James Smith: Thank you for thanking me!

cookhy: Start covering AL GORE some MORE! He's running an innovative political campaign while actually talking about the issues. Did you really think any of the candidates in the last 2 debates had anything substantial to talk about? It's a pony show!

James Smith: I'm not sure Al Gore would agree with your statement that he's actually campaigning already, but you are right that he's attracting a ton of attention for his willingness to make the issue of global warming an absolute priority. This is a useful reminder that our coverage has to do more than just follow the declared candidates around on the campaign trail.

Tina: I'd like to hear more about second-tier candidates like Chris Dodd and Joe Biden. However, I understand that the front-runners are more likely to win the nomination, so they "deserve" more coverage. How do you measure how much press each candidate gets? Would you be willing to cover the second-tier candidates more?

James Smith: In a race where 18 candidates are currently in the field, it's a huge challenge to calculate how much to focus on those leading in the polls and raising the most money versus those who are so-called lower-tier candidates. We have run two front-page stories recently on the back-of-the-pack candidates and their struggle for attention. One followed Chris Dodd around New Hampshire as he raised serious issues, and reminded voters of his long record of public service, and yet he barely gets noticed. We certainly don't want to dismiss anyone this early.

Dan: Do you consider candidates like Michael Charles Smith, Ron Paul, and Mike Gravel to be a waste of your resources?

James Smith: To the extent that these candidates are raising fresh issues that the front-runners want to avoid, they play a valuable role in holding the candidates accountable. And they sure are more accessible -- to voters and to reporters.

Maineiac: I'm interested in learning more about who I have to choose from. The first debates have been on TV already and I found myself asking "Who's Mike Gravel?" and "What's with this Ron Paul guy?"

James Smith: We are working hard to figure out what to do in print and what to do only online. The website gives us far more virtual space to add features that are non-linear, statistical and graphic -- more than just words. If you go to the politics page and click on the "Candidates" link, you'll get brief profiles of each candidate, for example. And soon there will be video footage of candidates answering questions we put to them on key issues. But we need to flesh them out. They are still quite cursory.

voter: I would appreciate it if the Globe would not just transcribe candidates' words but also put them into context. That is, your reporters should do their homework and tell readers whether candidates are speaking truthfully or not. Thanks, and good luck!

James Smith: This is a good suggestion. In the past, we've done "truth-squadding" of candidates' claims, in debates and in TV ads. We'll do the same this time, and will use online tools to make it more effective; this is a critical function for us and will require more resources.

paul: Hi Jim. I would like to see one person from each party -- possibly Romney and Edwards -- covered only when they are in a barber shop.

James Smith: Great idea.

Maineiac: I'm also interested in knowing at a glance what the leading candidates have in mind for specific issues. Having been through a layoff this year, I'm most concerned about the health insurance system and the economy.

James Smith: We'll also be building issues pages online, with links to other articles and documents as well as our own coverage. Healthcare, health insurance, and the economy are tough issues to write about clearly and accessibly, but we will not neglect them. What other issues do people want us to focus on?

tzevia: Shouldn't the Globe be giving more coverage to candidates that are really starting to attract some buzz, like Mike Gravel? Voters have already heard a lot about Hillary, Barack, Mitt, Rudy, etc. We need a more even-handed portrayal.

James Smith: Given that Mike Gravel was born in Springfield, there's a local angle for us! We did have a story on him the day after the Democratic debate, reminding readers where he's been since the Vietnam War. But worth following up.

poundcake: Why is it so important to focus on who is leading in the polls as opposed to focusing on specific stands on issues? Political coverage is so focused on meaningless polls. Why is that?

James Smith: Honestly, it's easier to write about the horserace than about the issues. It's also easier to look for the "gotcha" moment when a candidate makes a gaffe than it is to find creative ways to explain the issues. I do think it's important that we make sure readers know who is gaining and who is slipping. But it's far more important at this stage to air the candidates' views on the issues fully. I hear you.

Evolution: Stop asking questions about evolution, gay marriage, and religious beliefs, and start asking about schools, healthcare, and the war!!!

James Smith: There's no doubt that the war is a top priority for almost every voter. We need to be sure to provide full coverage not only of the battlefield but of the policy choices in DC. And we are constantly looking for ways to write about the impact in our communities of casualties and the sacrifices soldiers and their families are making. All of this has to reach beyond what the candidates are saying.

AshWeck: Would it be possible to focus more on the issues than the personal lives of the candidates? After all, they manage all right in France

James Smith: I would disagree with you to some extent. I do think it is vital that we also write about the candidates' lives, character, and background as well as their views. We need to know how these candidates have responded in moments of personal and political crisis. After all, the winner will have to make split-second decisions on matters that could change history.

mikey: Will there be more polls given touching on broader issues and not just the square peg-square debate?

James Smith: We will be drowning in polls before this election is over. The trick is to report on them with prudence and with a skeptical eye in terms of methodology and potential hidden agendas. Polls can be useful -- especially closer to the vote -- but they can manipulate the process, too. We aren't paying too much attention yet. We did note one poll today that showed gains for Romney in New Hampshire -- and we noted the critiques of the methodology.

Saint: Wondering if we could start with simply asking that the Globe present truly fair and balanced coverage?

James Smith: I will respond throughout the campaign to specific objections or complaints; let me know if you see things we've reported or omitted that you feel are unfair.

aaron101: I have noticed that in an effort to try and assume a position of objectivity, the Globe often seeks out hopelessly uninformed or really bizarre voters and presents them as a random sample. In the last state election, for example, the Globe found a Republican voting for Grace Ross, a libertarian voting for Deval Patrick, etc. I wonder if it is possible for the Globe to profile voters who are more informed about their own relation to parties and issues, rather than seeking underinformed independent voters.

James Smith: A good suggestion to seek out voters who are informed and perhaps involved and to profile them. I promise we won't look for any bizarre voters for our profiles! But we will look for ways to let people express how they feel -- I hope in more interactive forms, online.

Boston007: Illegal immigration

James Smith: Good. Adding it to the list.

Mitt_Obama: More facts, less subjective. For example, less "candidate X appears to be softening his message" and more about funds raised, who from, endorsements, interest group backers, appearances, position papers, events, etc. In short, depth and detail are more valuable than yet more talking-head quotes.

James Smith: I accept the challenge to do more quantitative and analytical reporting. We plan to use the growing number of tools available for crunching data on contributors, bundling donations, and assessing the role of 527 organizations. Yes to depth and detail.

Cowswithcoffee: I would like you to cover this presidential campaign like Hunter S. Thompson covered 1972. I think many people are interested in what is going on behind the scenes rather than the (usually fake) image politicians project during their campaigns.

James Smith: In some ways it's harder than ever to get beyond the spin-control of the candidates and get behind the scenes. But we certainly will try. Whether we'll engage in HST's gonzo journalism -- I wouldn't want to go that far.

Maineiac: I'd like to know more about what the Globe and Boston.com are doing to involve the voices of voters in the campaign. In an age when I can go to a campaign's website, blog and MySpace page, what can you add to what's already available, and what can I as a voter do to find out about my specific concerns?

James Smith: This is an area where we aren't yet sure how to exploit the opportunities the Internet provides to offer readers ways to express their views and feel like boston.com and the Globe offer them a voice. Specific ideas welcomed.

Gentleman_Farmer: I'd like to see more coverage on Mitt Romney. He's the native son and seems to be picking up steam. To combat the perceived/real liberal slant of the Globe, you should work even harder to put the Democrats' feet to the fire when they suggest unrealistic and unfunded programs.

James Smith: Just as the Globe had to make tough choices in 2004 about how much coverage to give to John Kerry, we face the same choice this time. I think there's a legitimate local interest in Romney and we have a responsibility to cover him in greater depth than other candidates, without favoring him.

mass_voter: I would like to see the Globe pick a general topic like the economy, education, war on terror, and devote a week's worth of reporting on each candiate's position and their solutions. I am not interested in them pointing out what's wrong, but rather specifically what are their plans.

James Smith: This is a very interesting idea that I want to ponder, in terms of resources of people and space. Thanks.

annie__Guest_: Does the Globe "endorse" a candidate? Is that an ethical practice of any objective news source?

James Smith: The editorial page endorses candidates, right before the election. The editorial section and the news section operate independently.

James Smith: There are separate editors, who report directly to the publisher. There's a virtual wall between us, which is a healthy thing.

Tim: Are you going to cover the Internet side of the campaign any differently than in past elections?

James Smith: We have been trying to figure out how to cover the online aspect of this campaign, which is huge and growing. We'll have a piece later this week about how the candidates risk losing control of their Web campaigns (whoops, shouldn't leak story ideas). Just as we need to assess the media coverage, we need to assess the online methods of the candidates and how voters are responding, and themselves participating in new ways that can strengthen the democracy.

Gentleman_Farmer: Does it make sense for you or perhaps the Ombusman to disclose if reporters and or Globe management is donating to candidates? As important for us to know the background of a candidate it is equally important to know if the reporters have a built-in bias.

James Smith: The paper's ethics policy is very clear on this. No reporter or editor or manager is allowed to contribute to a campaign, and the consequences would be severe for anyone who violated this policy. (And it'd be a heck of a good story for the Herald if someone here did so). All the individual contributions are disclosed in the quarterly FEC filings by the candidates.

Gentleman_Farmer: My advise is consistency. If you put a spotlight on one candidate for a stance on an issue, then put the spotlight on all. The Globe must be on watch for revealing anything that can be construed as liberal bias.

James Smith: I know this is a perception of the Globe, and that we need to be absolutely rigorous in balancing the coverage of candidates and issues. Consistency is a useful watchword.

Tim: The key, in my mind, is to cover how the message changes from one area of the country to another. Republicans warming to the religious right in the Carolinas, but moving toward the middle in the Northeast. Hillary is a great example. Not only does her message change, but her mannerisms and style as well. Definitive proof that every election is local.

James Smith: You're right; candidates do try to change their inflection regionally. We'll watch specifically for this.

James Smith: I'm afraid I'm running out of time -- but I've been happily surprised at the level of interest and the quality of the ideas and suggestions. I've tried to answer most of the questions/comments that raised different themes, but I've neglected many, too. Please send in e-mail comments to politics@boston.com and I will look there for additional thoughts from you. Let me take a couple more real quickly.

brndn: Has there ever been an instance you can discuss of when polling data seemed to be suspicious in origin and was rejected by your desk?

James Smith: We have ignored some polls in the past that had questionable methodology, such as poor sampling methods, or that were clearly commissioned by candidates themselves.

Cowswithcoffee: I appreciate your answer. I wasn't expecting anything gonzo from the Globe. All I'm interested in is more insight into the people running for president and the complex political process.

James Smith: I certainly agree.

Tim: I would love to see a piece that looks at the definition of what it means to be a Republican or a Democrat in today's world. In Massachusetts where the Democrats have a super majority in the Legislature, the death penalty failed by only one vote. Powerful Democratic leaders have held the line on tax increases. So, what is a Democrat?

James Smith: This is a worthwhile idea. We don't much think about the parties themselves and what they mean and how they function.

mikey: I was waiting for illegal immigration to come up. Thank you Boston007. I hope that you will give a true reflection on the situation in Boston realizing that a vast amount of Bostonians have immigrant blood and should not forget that

James Smith: Several people have raised the immigration theme. It's not my turf, but I do think the Metro Desk does a fine job of reporting on immigration issues and communities and issues of illegal immigration in the region. But I hear you that it's a big concern in the presidential election, too.