Those are actually lecterns; a podium is a raised platform.

Hear me out, now. I'm just trying to jazz up the proceedings and improve those all-important Nielsens.

Mount each lectern on a movable platform that has a range of 20' above stage level to 10' below. All candidates will, of course start at stage level. With me so far?

Okay, now give each audience member one of those "instant response" handsets, tied into a computer somewhere in the bowels of the auditorium. (If the DNC really wanted to get tricky, also allow at-home viewers to vote over the intertubes!)

Every time a candidate makes a point, the audience could either vote "YAY!" or "BOO!" (those are the only two choices). If the computer tallies up more YAY!s than BOO!s, that candidate's platform would rise 1/2 inch. Conversely, if more BOO!s than YAY!s were tallied, the platform would DROP 1/2 inch.

So, all throughout the debate, the candidates would rise and fall based on the popularity of their positions -- like a human calliope out of an old Disney movie. By the half-time show, some candidates might be ridin' high, while some might only have their eyes showing above the stage. Interactive Democracy in Action!

I admit that it needs some polishing, and the RNC has already rejected my idea -- probably because there was an inexplicable software glitch that caused ALL the candidates to drop below stage level, where my concept originally proposed that there be alligators.