Convention effects: examining the impact of national presidential nominating conventions on information, preferences, and behavioral intentions. Issue 4 (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weinschenk, Aaron; Panagopoulos, Costas
• Is Part Of: Journal of elections, public opinions & parties. Volume 26:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 511
• Page End: 531
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Elections -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Political parties -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Public opinion -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1945- -- Periodicals; 324.941086005
• DOI: 10.1080/17457289.2016.1223678
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-7289

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We ask whether and how US presidential nominating conventions matter in contemporary US elections. Using individual-level panel data, we find evidence that the conventions exert important effects on the electorate by influencing post-convention intentions to participate in electoral politics, knowledge about the candidates, and candidate favorability ratings, even after controlling for pre-convention intentions, knowledge, and candidate ratings. We conclude that conventions remain important campaign events that play a role in facilitating democratic processes in America.