On Politics

Tue Oct 17 2023

Hey OnPolitics readers. In case you missed our series of town halls in Exeter, New Hampshire, hosted by Seacoastonline and the USA TODAY Network, voters got into the important issues with five Republican presidential candidates.

But we asked the candidates some lighter questions, too, like what they're listening to, reading or watching.

The town hall forums included former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former Vice President Mike Pence and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Do you think you can guess which candidate loves Steve Martin and which identifies as a Swiftie? Read on, and click through for the answers.

Let's start with the music round.

❔ This candidate loves contemporary Christian music but switches it up on the campaign bus from time to time.

This candidate said: "On the way to one of the recent debates I was listening to the theme from 'Rocky,' 'Eye of the Tiger.'"

Can you guess the answer?

❔ One candidate listens to Johnny Cash and also enjoys Norah Jones.

Here's who it is

❔ This candidate was listening to 'I Love Rock 'n Roll' by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts before our town hall forum, and has Taylor Swift, Def Leppard and Meat Loaf as top playlist picks.

This is the Swiftie

❔ This candidate's musical picks might tip you off: "A lot of the soundtrack from 'Cars 2' and 'Monsters Inc.' Those have been, I would say, all the rage in the family recently."

The candidate is...

Can you guess candidates' favorite TV shows?

❔ 'Yellowstone' is a favorite for not one, but three candidates.

Candidate one called watching the show on family ranchers a 'habit' while candidate two, who also recently enjoyed watching the Netflix documentary series on David Beckham, calls this a favorite.

BONUS: Can you guess which other candidate said this about 'Yellowstone'? : "The only thing I'd say about Yellowstone is having someone who's actually ranched. ... It's fun to look at the details and see when they're doing the roundup scenes and the roping scenes and breaking horses scenes on what's actually real and what stuff is made for TV."

❔ You'll find this candidate watching Sunday football this season.

Hint: tennis was mentioned, too.

❔ This candidate watches 'Only Murders in the Building' with their spouse.

"He and Martin Short, I think are two of the funniest people on the face of the Earth, and we've enjoyed that show," this candidate said.

Round three: What are the candidates reading?

❔ After finishing a book about President Abraham Lincoln making speeches in New Hampshire, this candidate is currently reading "Why We're Polarized," a book by Ezra Klein about American's political divides.

Who said it? "It's a fascinating book as to how we got to this point of division in our country."

❔ One candidate just finished a three-volume set on World War II naval history.

Can you guess?

❔ This candidate is reading "G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century," a book about former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover.

Who is it?

❔ While many of the candidates opt for nonfiction, this candidate is reading a novel, "The Oceans and the Stars," written by Mark Helprin.

Here's the longtime fan of the author.

📲 Keep reading: Beyond their favorites, USA TODAY reporters asked about their individual visions for younger voters. Here's how candidates Mike Pence, Asa Hutchinson, Doug Burgum, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy responded.