December 2007.Five ordinary Americans on the campaign trail, challenging politicians and each other, bringing different backgrounds and experiences to bear on the issues facing the country. Frontline coverage lets the public interpret politics through the eyes of their fellow citizens.
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Behind the Scenes
SelectionWe asked a survey research firm to identify 20 people each in IA, SC, CA, and FL, and held auditions. Bert (New England) was already known to the producers – he had been randomly invited to attend a civic event in CT in 2004.
ParticipantsLizz, a 23-year-old florist from Iowa; Bert, a laid-off manufacturing professional and libertarian from New England, now living in Maine; Tamara, a 33-year-old Baptist mother of three and teacher from South Carolina; Tanya, a gun-carrying half-Cuban-American/half Puerto-Rican art gallery director from Florida, and Alex, a Californian who works for AT&T and lives with his Mexican-American son-in-law and grandchildren.
FinancingPurple States covered the production budget through individual contributions, including a legacy from Eleanor Farrar.
Editorial ControlThe producers selected the citizens and determined the content. The series aired as op-ed video.
Credits
- Produced by Cynthia Farrar and John Kennedy
- Directed by Bryan Litman
- Production assistance from Christopher Coccaro and Beth Morrissey
- Video editing by Aaron Yanes
- Assistant editors: Paul Pangman and Torrey Townsend
- Videography by Andrew Baxter and Tom Graney
- Audio recording by Raphael Laski and Nico Mazet
Introducing Purple States
Who are Bert, Tamara, Lizz, Alex, and Tanya? And what are they doing on the campaign trail?
Bert sees no future in manufacturing – and asks John McCain – and author Thomas Friedman -- to explain their optimism.
Can America afford to keep spending like there’s no tomorrow? Bert mistrusts the answers he gets from candidates.
An encounter with a struggling family frames Bert and Tamara’s policy disagreements – and the questions they ask candidates.
Tamara and Tanya question whether politics can ever achieve a comprehensive policy that requires some sacrifices from everyone.
Lizz and Tamara wonder whether Republicans are more realistic than Democrats—or lacking in compassion.
A glimpse of the future: the Purple States team finds Ron Paul’s campaign a refreshing antidote to politics as usual.
Tanya supports the Iraq War. Her differences with Alex emerge as they question candidates, veterans and military leaders.
Alex and Bert peer across the fence, and hear conflicting views on immigration. What does the border state candidate think?
Should decisions about abortion be made in the voting booth? in the pulpit? Tamara and Alex investigate values-based politics.
Lizz takes her questions about subsidies to candidates Obama and Biden, Edwards, Romney – and Ron Paul.
Lizz and Alex explore what motivates unaffiliated citizens. How will candidates appeal to them?
First-time voter Lizz attends a how-to session and wonders if choosing a candidate is all that different from choosing a candy bar.
What weighs with a Millennial? Lizz assesses the balance of power at the Iowa Caucus.
Tanya’s own political identity shows that Hispanics do not speak with a single voice. How are candidates from the two parties courting them?
Bert is drawn to Huckabee, and asks: what does it mean to be a Republican?
They began as undecideds. Who do Alex, Bert, Lizz, Tamara and Tanya decide to vote for in the primaries, and why?
A campaign is not just a horse race. What’s it like to cover the election from the point of view of an ordinary citizen?