Author Question: Define the horse race concept, and explain the implications of the media focusing on it. What ... (Read 23 times)

asd123 · **on:** Jul 9, 2018

Define the horse race concept, and explain the implications of the media focusing on it.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Explain how party identification, political issues, and candidate appraisals come together to produce a vote choice. Describe the process by which you come to prefer one candidate or party over another. Use specific examples to support your points.

What will be an ideal response?

Smiles0805 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 9, 2018

Answer to Question 1

An ideal response will:
1, Define the horse race aspect of elections as the media's obsession with who is ahead or behind through an intense focus on tracking polls.
2, Explain that the horse race focus tends to displace reporting about a candidate's positions on issues with discussions of campaign strategies, which could lead to an electorate that is less informed.

Answer to Question 2

An ideal response will:
1, Explain how political scientists have a difficult time understanding the relationship between the variables mentioned, because individual behavior is often random and idiosyncratic and that the variables interact in complex ways.
2, Explain that in spite of these complexities, voters generally assess likes and dislikes of a candidate, and then vote for the candidate with the greatest number of favorable attitudes. Further explain that if the two candidates are equal, voters tend to rely on partisanship.
4, Provide a clear analysis of how the student comes to specific candidate preferences.
5, Provide a clear and effective conclusion.