Full Court Press

Lately The Politico is not one of my favorite political websites. In the last few months since the election its taken a sharp right turn. But Mike Allen has a really interesting behind the scenes look today at the planning that goes in to preparing questions for presidential press conferences.

Give it a read. A morsel:

The president’s answers were notably long at his last press conference. Although reporters have been told to expect crisper ones this time, Henry pointed out that the long ones can be smart strategy.

“He can get his message out by hitting five or six points instead of just one or two,” Henry said. “But also, the longer the answer, the more people kind of forget the question, and it can take the sting off. At that first news conference, there were some answers where I was thinking, ‘What did that guy ask again?’”