symbolitics
Portmanteau: Symbolic + Politics
From Edelman: Subconscious creation of a make-believe political world by politicians, based on their own roles, for the electorate using political symbols and rituals for and by the mass media.
From Edelman: Subconscious creation of a make-believe political world by politicians, based on their own roles, for the electorate using political symbols and rituals for and by the mass media.
McCain's own brand of symbolitics creates for himself a media image of a great hero saving his party and country from demise.