 William D. Harpine , studying McKinley 's rhetoric during the front porch campaign , argued that McKinley 's campaign was in some ways ahead of its time , " even in the age of broadcasting , most candidates for nationwide office embark on a campaign tour . In 1896 , long before the advent of broadcasting , McKinley accomplished the same purpose as a modem candidate , and did so without making a campaign tour . " The visits of the delegations to the McKinley home in Canton constituted a series of media events that McKinley used to get his speeches into the newspapers . In speaking from his front porch , McKinley was not principally addressing the delegations , but the many Americans who would not visit Canton , and who would read the speeches in newspapers . Williams agreed , " the remarkable Front Porch Campaign used modern technology to bring 750 @,@ 000 visitors to his small hometown and dispatched his message nationwide . " 
