Political Post Party Hosted by Local PR Guru

Fayetteville was one of three cities in presidential election “swing states” to be selected to host a watch party complete with Washington Post reporters for the Sept. 30 debate between President Bush and challenger U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

Along with Allentown, Pa., and Albion, Mich., Fayetteville was tabbed by the Post as a “swing district in a swing state.” The plan was for the reporters to chronicle the response of local “undecideds” in each locale, although the resulting Oct. 2 article acknowledged most of the 120 total participants were already leaning one way or the other.

The local event was held at the home of Elise Mitchell, president and founder of Mitchell Communications Group Inc. in Fayetteville. Gov. Mike Huckabee’s office told the Post that Little Rock and Fayetteville were probably the state’s most politically diverse cities, and Mitchell was subsequently chosen as a hostess.