America,America: National Identity,Presidential Debates,and National Mood |
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| Authors: | Penelope Sheets David S Domke Christopher Wells Colin J Lingle Amanda Ballantyne Fahed Al-Sumait |
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| Institution: | 1. Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam sheets@ura.nl;3. Department of Communication , University of Washington;4. School of Journalism and Mass Communication , University of Wisconsin–Madison;5. School of Law , University of Washington;6. Department of Communication , Gulf University for Science and Technology , Kuwait |
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| Abstract: | In their public messages, United States politicians often invoke America in an attempt to unite citizens and build electoral coalitions. Such an emphasis is particularly common in presidential debates, which are climactic “media events” late in campaigns for the White House, when candidates take questions from journalists and citizens while addressing millions of voters. We analyzed the connection between (a) candidates' highlighting of national identity in presidential debates and (b) mass public opinion since 1960. We expected and found that (a) candidates increased their emphasis on the nation during times of heightened national uncertainty, (b) Democratic presidential candidates invoked the nation more often than Republican candidates, and (c) comparisons across elections among incumbents suggest that national uncertainty was more important than partisan identity in eliciting invocations of the nation. |
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