Examining the Effect of Public Attention on U.S. Senate Election Outcomes

38 Pages Posted: 10 Sep 2011

See all articles by Colin Swearingen

Colin Swearingen

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Joseph T. Ripberger

University of Oklahoma

Date Written: September 8, 2011

Abstract

Congressional elections scholars have spent considerable time exploring how voters pay attention to campaigns. We add to this literature by conceptualizing public attention as a relative measure between two candidates. Borrowing from epidemiology and research in public policy, we propose a new indicator of public attention based on trends in Internet search activity. Such a conceptualization allows for us to insert public attention into the larger theoretical picture. We test this measure by statistically analyzing Senate elections between 2004-2010, finding a positive and significant relationship between relative attentiveness and electoral success that is robust across multiple specifications.

Suggested Citation

Swearingen, Colin and Ripberger, Joseph T., Examining the Effect of Public Attention on U.S. Senate Election Outcomes (September 8, 2011). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1924574 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1924574

Colin Swearingen (Contact Author)

Oklahoma House of Representatives ( email )

2300 N Lincoln Blvd
Oklahoma city, OK 73105
United States

Joseph T. Ripberger

University of Oklahoma ( email )

307 W Brooks
Norman, OK 73019
United States

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