Chris Heinz Urges Media to Cover the Issues in 2004 Presidential Campaign

Says debates will be defining factor for voters

Chris Heinz (Photos by Tim Kaulen, Photographic and Graphic Services, Mellon Institute)

Chris Heinz told a near capacity crowd in McConomy Auditorium that he's very interested in discussing policy and issues, but unfortunately his interests aren't shared by the national media in its coverage of the 2004 presidential campaign. Instead, he said the media is more interested in covering each candidate's military service records and the personal attacks being launched by both Democrats and Republicans.

"People deserve to have the media cover the issues. The voters are still yearning to learn what the candidates can do for them. But it's not entirely the media's fault," he said. "We need to demand more coverage of the issues. Our democracy is at a crossroad," he said.

Heinz, the youngest son of the late Senator H. John Heinz III, for whom the Heinz School is named, and Teresa Heinz Kerry, was the guest speaker at the inaugural fall Heinz School Convocation on Wednesday, Sept. 8. The topic of his talk was "Perspectives from the Campaign Trail."

Heinz holds a bachelor's degree in history from Yale, where he focused on modern American foreign policy and politics, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He worked in finance for investment advisory and private equity firms before devoting his full-time attention to the John Kerry presidential campaign.

He said it's been an "amazing 18 months," but the last few weeks, which have been dominated by negative comments have been disappointing. "The national game is unnecessarily money driven and personal," he said.

Heinz predicted that the election would be decided by world events and the nationally televised debates between President George W. Bush and John Kerry.

He called the debates the "defining factor" for voters and expressed concern over the moderators and the debate format. He said how the candidates handle follow-up questions in which they must stray from their scripted responses would be critical to their performances.

Bruce Gerson