Journal of Electoral Studies

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Home Issues Backissues Volume 31, No.2 The Relative Importance of Partisanship, Issue, and Candidate in American Presidential Electoral Behavior-A Discussion of Methodology and Case Study

The Relative Importance of Partisanship, Issue, and Candidate in American Presidential Electoral Behavior-A Discussion of Methodology and Case Study

Emile Chih-Jen Sheng
1999 / 05
Volume 6, No.1

pp.67-110
10.6612/tjes.1999.06.01.67-110
Paper

Abstract

This study focuses on the analysis of the relative importance of policy considerations, candidate personality assessments, and partisanship in the presidential selection process. In constructing my statistical models, I utilize developments in information processing theory to construct variables that conform to the on-line information processing assumption. Previous studies using open-ended questions to operationalize candidate assessments may underestimate their effects. I find that for the whole electorate, the personal characteristics of candidates have the most effect of the three schemata under examination, and there is a strong indirect influence of candidate assessment on policy considerations through projection and persuasion effects.

Keywords

presidential election

voting behavior

two-stage least square

candidate-centered politics