Senators John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphry vie for votes in the in the 1960 Wisconsin open primary. The camera follows the two candidates through rallies, on busses and in meeting rooms as they hand-shake their way around the state, with Kennedy strong among urban voters and Humphry favoured by the rural electorate. The documentary is revealing and candid in a way that modern 'image masseurs' and 'spin doctors' would likely never permit. The rigours of the non-stop campaigning can be seen in the faces of the two men, especially in the dark bags under the eyes of the youthful Kennedy. The film is likely more interesting to modern audiences because of the presence on the doomed young president-to-be and his lovely wife, but anyone with an interest in U.S. political history or who just wants to see how much has changed in American politics over the last 60 years will find the hour well spent.
Review of Primary
