The 1992 presidential race saw the candidates, in particular Bill Clinton and Ross Perot, use unorthodox means of reaching and reading the electorate. Not only did they give a high profile to ''800'' numbers, but the candidates also went hunting for votes through nontraditional forums such as Larry King Live and call-ins on other shows, Arsenio, and MTV news and specials. This article examines what these ''soft'' formats did to the political discourse and what the discourse did to the formats.