Mike O wrote: -snip- >A candidate, regardless of the tv networks' judgement of that >candidate, should get airtime in proportion to some measure of >public support. -snip- I'm not sure it should be proportional. Maybe something nonlinear would be better, so less known candidates get more than the so-called "fair" share that a proportional formula would give them. The well-known candidates don't need it as much. If "valid" polls could be used as a measure of support, then it might be possible to increase a candidate's share of airtime if exposure to his/her candidacy causes a bump up in the polls, and decrease the candidate's share if exposure causes a decline. If some scheme like this were used, then maybe all the candidates could start with an equal share of airtime and the electorate's responses would determine how the shares change. ---Steve (Steve Eppley [EMAIL PROTECTED])