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Candidate Confessional – Defeated Politicians Tell All — News & Politics
Candidate Confessional – Defeated Politicians Tell All

Everyone loses. But some losses sting worse than others. This is a podcast about tough defeats. Hosts Sam Stein and Jason Cherkis talk to candidates who came up short in their bid for president, governor, senator and other elected office; those defined by YouTube moments and others who fell by painfully close margins. Looking back, these candidates give the listener an unvarnished, often-emotional picture of what life is really like on the campaign trail.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Latest Episodes:

How The Hell Do You Lose To Rob Ford? Mar 14, 2016

Show notes

Rob Ford, the former mayor of Toronto, is known for many things: an outlandish personality, offensive language, and, of course, the times he was caught smoking crack. He is also a formidable politician who has managed to be elected to office despite these foibles. In the latest podcast, we talk to one of the candidates Ford defeated about just how hard it is to take down the infamous mayor.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newt Gingrich's Odd And Wonderful 2012 Campaign Mar 07, 2016

Show notes

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) is one of the most dramatic and divisive political figures in modern U.S. history. And when he ran for president in 2012, he didn't disappoint. In the latest Candidate Confessional, Gingrich recounts all the stumbles and triumphs that he endured on the trail. And he shared some sage advice for this year's White House aspirants.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Republican Dishes On The Dangers Of Being Bipartisan Feb 29, 2016

Show notes

Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) got along well with the opposition throughout his career. He had good relations with Democrats and appeared on shows like Bill Maher and The Colbert Report. But when he ran for the Senate in 2014, he quickly realized that being mild-mannered -- and even remotely interested in bipartisanship -- was a serious liability.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Relive One Of The Worst Booings In Political History Feb 22, 2016

Show notes

During his campaign for mayor of Toledo in 2009, Ben Konop delivered a speech that became Internet lore. Appearing on the street where his mom grew up, he was booed, mercilessly, by a man sitting on a nearby porch. The video went viral, viewed 850,000 times on YouTube and lampooned by South Park. In the latest episode, Konop details that excruciating moment and how he moved beyond it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former RNC Chair Michael Steele On His 2006 Senate Campaign Feb 15, 2016

Show notes

Before he became an MSNBC personality; before he became chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele ran for the U.S. Senate in Maryland. One of the best known African-American Republicans in the country, he nearly won. But he was done in by a terrible cycle for his party (thanks, George W. Bush) and, he argues, some subtle and not-so-subtle racism on the trail.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Pawlenty On His Presidential Run Feb 08, 2016

Show notes

Tim Pawlenty had everything a Republican presidential candidate should have. He was a governor with a blue-collar conservative brand and the best operatives in the business. But his campaign for the White House in 2012 is remembered now for a poor showing in a straw poll, a major debate flub, and a swift exit. In this episode, he explains why everything went so wrong, so quickly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wendy Davis On Her Run For Governor Feb 01, 2016

Show notes

Wendy Davis became an icon in 2013 when she stood on the floor of the Texas Senate for nearly 13 hours to beat back anti-abortion legislation. Although the legislation ultimately passed, the moment catapulted her to national stardom and paved the way for a run for governor. It didn't go as planned. Her campaign proved to be a brutal reality check for those who hoped to turn a deep red state, purple. She tells that story in vivid detail.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitt Romney's Top Aide On The White House Run Jan 25, 2016

Show notes

Mitt Romney's run for the White House in 2012 featured incredible highs (a boffo debate performance against Barack Obama) and excruciating lows (a widely-panned trip abroad). Behind it all was Stu Stevens, his senior strategist. In this episode, Stevens details those and other episodes as well as the pain Romney's high-profile defeat caused him.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michele Bachmann On Her Run For The White House Jan 18, 2016

Show notes

Former Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) was one of most provocative conservative in Congress. She parlayed that reputation into a brief stint as a frontrunner for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. It didn't last long. In this episode, she recounts how her campaign fell apart as well as some of the more unsavory moments of life on the trail.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Howard Dean on His Presidential Campaign Jan 14, 2016

Show notes

In the 2004 campaign, Howard Dean went from being a little known governor of Vermont to a leading Democratic presidential candidate, surging on his opposition to the Iraq war. And then, it all came crashing down, culminating in his infamous scream speech in Iowa. Twelve years later, Dean recounts in detail his rise and what precipitated his fall.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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