The 1988 Vice-Presidential debate between candidates Dan Quayle and Lloyd Bentsen served as a rhetorical forum for airing the policies and behaviors of each candidate. Elements of compliance-gaining and apologia were interrelated and overlapped throughout the debate. Both candidates effectively maneuvered these strategies and avoided direct…

To investigate the temporally ordered process in image and issue learning as it affects the voting decision, a study conducted a secondary analysis of panel survey data from Wisconsin during the 1976 presidential elections. The study hypothesized that, because of the difficulty in understanding complex issues, voters rely on image evaluations for…

In 1983 the Federal Communications Commission began allowing television and radio stations to stage their own political debates between candidates of their own choosing, but few broadcasters have been taking full advantage of the rule. Section 315 of The Communications Act requires that if a station grants use of the broadcasting station to a…

In preparing election debate offerings for the public, the news departments of six local television stations in New York State--the ABC, NBC, and CBS affiliates in Syracuse, the CBS and ABC affiliates in Buffalo, and the ABC affiliate in Rochester--were often more concerned with format decisions, hinging on "what will fit" within a…

A study examined the coverage of the 1984 Jesse Jackson presidential campaign in the "New York Times,""Washington Post,""Chicago Tribune," and "Los Angeles Times," noting (1) the number of stories that mention Jackson; (2) the total column inches devoted to the stories mentioning Jackson; (3) subject matter…

Examines voters' evaluative structures used in making decisions about political candidates, specifically regarding election level and candidates' incumbent-challenger status. Concludes that incumbent positioning affects perceptual criteria formation for candidates. Reports that voting behavior predictions can be made when candidate idiosyncracies…

Considers child care as a political issue and examines the positions of 1988 presidential candidates on child care. Discusses whether concern over the issue of child care is good politics and suggests that readers write to candidates and elicit their positions on child care. (RWB)

Describes how a high school helps students analyze their own political views in order to make intelligent voting decisions. The approach uses a political spectrum, running from extreme right to extreme left, illustrated with examples at various points. Statements of political candidates are then categorized by the students. (JDH)

Concludes that candidate John Anderson generated almost as many news stories in the l980 presidential campaign as did Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter but that the stories about him were not as likely to be used by the media. (FL)

Considers irony as rhetorical strategy in presidential campaigns. Argues that it promotes identification on the basis of public cynicism toward government, through which people transcend problems of government. Views irony in campaign rhetoric as the candidates' response to increasing levels of cynicism toward government. Concludes that candidates…

Finds enhanced recall of political television commercials from content domains of family and appearance in the case of women as opposed to men candidates, and enhanced recall from the domain of campaign activities in the case of men as opposed to women candidates. Finds that men's attack ads on women elicited greater emotional reaction than…

Examines whether news media were biased in coverage of the candidates during the 1996 United States Presidential campaign, and whether the quantity of positive and negative news coverage of the candidates was related to the public's preference. Finds balanced media coverage of the two principle candidates (Clinton and Dole) and a powerful…

Contributes to scholarship on rhetorical criticism, political science, and feminism by examining one aspect of the 1992 campaign year known as the "Year of the Woman." Discusses how the mass-mediated discursive formation positioned five female Senate candidates outside of perceived mainstream cultural beliefs. Investigates ways the…

Reports evidence that George W. Bush's financial and political success has been linked to the two richest university endowments in the United States--Harvard University and the University of Texas System, specifically the University of Texas Investment Management Company. Notes that officials of both universities' management companies denied any…

Modern politics become personalized as individual characteristics of voters and candidates assume greater importance in political discourse. Although personalities of candidates capture center stage and become the focus of voters' preferences, individual characteristics of voters, such as their traits and values, become decisive for political…