"We have the reputation, but I think it's a little hard to find the data," she says. "I think it is undeserved."

Phillips says that the most significant factor in recruitment is the person's public service record and dedication.

"The best thing about the IOP is that we bring people who want to be here and who know that our mission is to inspire students to lives of public office," she says. "We are looking for people who are going to continue to be factors in the political scene but are in transition."

The roots of the KSG's false reputation, officials say, lie in those few cases in which famous election losers met the school's needs for Fellows or faculty.

"When some people run for office, especially a national office, people recognize the name and it will stick in their mind that they saw the election and the person lost," Phillips said. "We look beyond the election and what just happened to them. They have to be really committed."

McLaughlin also said that one or two names, especially in the political realm, can create an irreversible mark on an institution.

"When people see one or two high profile names, that is what they remember," she said. "When you think about the people who have lost, that doesn't mean they have nothing to offer. They are here because they believe in public service."