MSNBC premiering new documentaries on Romney and Obama

MSNBC’s Long Form unit will be premiering two new documentary specials chronicling the lives and political careers of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama, in advance of their respective parties’ national conventions.

The first one, Mitt Romney: The Making of a Candidate, premieres tonight, Aug. 24, on MSNBC at 10pm ET, just days before the Republican National Convention begins on Monday. This one-hour special is hosted by NBC News Chief White House Correspondent and Political Director Chuck Todd, and follows the former Massachusetts governor through the trials and tribulations of a prolonged 2012 presidential primary season as he eventually emerges as the soon-to-be Republican nominee for president. The program includes an exclusive one-on-one interview with the candidate by Todd while on the trail. It also examines Romney’s coming of age, the role of the Mormon religion in his life, his rise as a businessman and politician, and his relationships with his family and staff. Key people interviewed for the special include people from all phases of Romney’s life — a high-school classmate, Sidney Barthwell; a close campaign advisor from his 1994 run against Ted Kennedy, Rick Reed; a Bain partner, Geoffrey Rehnert; Governors Tom Kean (R-NJ) and Bill Weld (R-Mass.); and Romney advisors Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) and Dan Senor.

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The next documentary, Barack Obama: Making History, premieres on MSNBC Sept. 3 at 10pm ET, the day before the Democratic National Convention begins. Hosted by Hardball‘s Chris Matthews, the one-hour special places President Obama’s election and presidency into a historical perspective, examining his rise to the highest office in the land and highlighting what he has accomplished during his first term and what he has yet to do going forward. Matthews interviews key players in the Obama story for the special, including Vice President Joe Biden, Obama campaign advisor David Axelrod and Caroline Kennedy, among others.

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