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GOP candidates’ families humanize the campaign

By Shira Schoenberg

 |  Globe Correspondent  

  December 30, 2011

The candidates’ spouses and families have become a ubiquitous presence on the campaign trail during the Republican presidential race. Most of the candidates have run ads highlighting their families. On the trail, it falls to families - who are less scripted, more positive, and less political than the candidates - to humanize their spouse, parent, or grandparent. “(Family members) demonstrate the candidate is something other than a presidential candidate,’’ said Jennifer Lawless, director of the Women and Politics Institute at American University.

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