Presidential Debate Watching, Issue Knowledge, Character Evaluation, and Vote Choice

Abstract

This study employs NES (National Election Survey) data from several presidential elections to investigate the effects of presidential debate watching on voters' issue knowledge, character evaluation, and vote choice. Debates can instill issue knowledge; however, voters are less likely to learn about incumbent presidents seeking re-election after a four-year term in office than about other candidates. Debates are also capable of changing voters' impressions of the candidates' character. Finally, at times debates help viewers make a vote choice; they are more likely to strengthen existing preferences (increasing confidence in their vote choice) than alter vote preferences.

Agenda Control in the 2008 CNN/YouTube Debates

“…Political debates are an important opportunity for citizens to learn about the candidates and to help them decide for whom to vote 2 (Benoit & Hansen, 2004;Benoit, McKinney, & Holbert, 2001;Benoit, Webber, & Berman, 1998;Hellweg et al, 1992;Pfau & Kang, 1991). At the same time, candidates use debates as an opportunity to explain their policy positions and differentiate themselves from other candidates.…”

A Functional Analysis of the Finnish 2012 Presidential Elections

“…Hollihan, 2009;Roitman, 2015;Straub, Beller, & Hunt, 2012;Zarefsky, 2008;), issue ownership (e.g. Benoit & Hansen, 2004;Cole & Hawthorne, 2013) and effects of political leaders' debates on issue knowledge and voter behaviour (e.g., Benoit & Hansen, 2004;Benoit et al, 2003;Benoit, McKinney & Stephenson, 2006;Pfau, 2002). According to these studies televised debates increase issue knowledge and influence voters' perception of the candidates and voter behaviour, especially in situations where voters were undecided before watching the debates.…”

Who Watches Presidential Debates? A Comparative Analysis of Presidential Debate Viewing in 2000 and 2004

“…Understanding who watches debates is important because debate viewing increases political knowledge about the candidates (Becker, Sobowale, Cobbey, & Eyal, 1978;Holbert, Benoit, Hansen, & Wen, 2002;Holbrook, 1999;Jamieson & Adasiewicz, 2000), affects candidate image and trait perceptions (Benoit & Hansen, 2004;Lang & Lang, 1961;Zhu, Milavsky, & Biswas, 1994), and influences impressions about "who won" the debate (Tsfati, 2003).…”