Partisan Perceptions of a 2004 Presidential Debate

• In Event: Challenging Previous Political Debate Findings and Exploring New Debate Research Territory

Abstract

A quasi-experiment investigated perceptions of a 2004 presidential debate. Consistent with prior research, candidate preference powerfully predicted the perceived debate winner and partisans were more interested in the election. Neither political partisanship nor interest in the election predicted perceived moderator bias or anticipated third-person effect. Among Kerry partisans, higher anticipated third-person effect predicted less perceived moderator bias. Theoretical implications concerning biased assimilation, anticipated third-person effect and the hostile media effect are discussed.

Authors

• John D. Richardson, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

• William P Huddy, University of Denver

• Shawn M Morgan, Univ of Colorado, Colorado Springs