The four Democrat and Republican managers, however, vociferously opposed the creation of a third party to compete with the existing two. Rove insisted that America was designed to work best with a two-party system that adapted to changing concerns.

When Amato said that third-party candidates have introduced most of the major reforms and policy changes throughout history, Davis observed that the "new ideas are incorporated into the two major parties and the third party is consumed."

All of the managers lamented the press's disproportionate influence on voter's perceptions of the election and emphasis on the horserace over the substance of their campaigns.

"The press is the biggest player in the political drama," Rove said. "You've got about 20 people in the country you've got to please--those on the campaign plane."

They also expressed frustration that while young people were some of the hardest workers constituting the majority of their campaign staff, young people nationwide still voted at disappointingly low rates.

"This is when I take my 'party hat' off, and that's not often," Brazile said to the audience. "You should get involved and vote."

Encouraging young people to engage in political activism, Davis said that the "message is lost on you because you have so many opportunities in this fine institution that just aren't available to the rest of the country."

Returning to McCain's goal of "inspiring a generation of young people to do things not in their self-interest," Davis told the audience that is was "incumbent upon you to take this message out to others."