Off to the Races

It's Super Tuesday and in honor of the primaries being waged from coast to coast, I pose the following question: Why are political contests often called horse races?

According to Bartholomew H. Sparrow (true name...) in his book, Uncertain Guardians: The News Media as a Political Institution, the "horse race" aspect of political campaigns is a focus on the race, rather than on the issues or the policies being touted by the candidates. According to an anonymous NBC news executive, this focus appeals to the viewers who only "want to know...who will win." Similarly, according to James Carville, this perspective appeals to the press because "What reporter wouldn't rather report on strategy than message?" So we have endless predictions, polls and newscasters as handicappers, "turf" on which they somehow feel comfortable and qualified.

All of which seems to imply that actual horse racing is all about winning, not about breeding, training, strategy and a healthy dose of luck. By calling political races "horse races" the media implies that these races are only about who runs well on a certain day in a certain place and that what they are running on or for means very little. To which I ask, then why spend months spouting policies and promises? Just show up on race day and let the best man or woman win.

The analogy is further ironic in that the coverage of actual horse races (think about the two hour preamble to the Kentucky Derby) tends to focus on the "up close and personal" aspect of the horse's connections, his past performances and all the variables that could affect his performance. So while the lingo of "neck and neck" and "into the homestretch" comes straight off the track, pundits may be doing the candidates a true disservice by calling their campaigns horse races simply because, in the end, someone does win.

After all what makes a horse race interesting is that nothing is predictable. A horse could get hurt, refuse to leave the starting gate or lose its rider. A long shot can win; a favorite can lose and theoretically anyone can win. Trust me, if we knew the magic formula, it would be no fun.

So call a political contest a horse race because anything can happen and very often it's exciting to see how the stretch duel plays out. Not because someone always goes to the winner's circle.

And don't forget to vote.