News verdicts, the debates, and presidential campaigns

Abstract

Preface Introduction Study Design and Rationale Network Television News Coverage of the Debates, 1976 to 1988 Candidate Verdicts in Post-Debate Analysis Programs Journalists and the Idea of Presidential Debates The First Bush-Dukakis Debate: Face-To-Face Contact The Quayle-Bentsen Debate: A Verdict Effect? The Final Presidential Debate: October 13, 1988 Debates in the Eyes of the Audience The Audience Responds to Attack Ads Debates in the Context of the Rest of the Campaign Appendix Bibliography Index