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In Defense of Negativity: Attack Ads in Presidential Campaigns
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In Defense of Negativity: Attack Ads in Presidential Campaigns Hardback - 2006

by John G. Geer

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From the publisher

Americans tend to see negative campaign ads as just that: negative. Pundits, journalists, voters, and scholars frequently complain that such ads undermine elections and even democratic government itself. But John G. Geer here takes the opposite stance, arguing that when political candidates attack each other, raising doubts about each other's views and qualifications, voters--and the democratic process--benefit.

In Defense of Negativity, Geer's study of negative advertising in presidential campaigns from 1960 to 2004, asserts that the proliferating attack ads are far more likely than positive ads to focus on salient political issues, rather than politicians' personal characteristics. Accordingly, the ads enrich the democratic process, providing voters with relevant and substantial information before they head to the polls.

An important and timely contribution to American political discourse, In Defense of Negativity concludes that if we want campaigns to grapple with relevant issues and address real problems, negative ads just might be the solution.

Details

  • Title In Defense of Negativity: Attack Ads in Presidential Campaigns
  • Author John G. Geer
  • Binding Hardback
  • Pages 218
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher University of Chicago Press
  • Publication date 2006-04
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9780226284989 / 0226284980
  • Weight 1.06 lbs (0.48 kg)
  • Dimensions 9 x 6 x 0.8 in (22.86 x 15.24 x 2.03 cm)
  • Category Politics / Current Events
  • Library of Congress subjects Negativism, Political campaigns - United States
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 2005015164
  • Dewey Decimal Code 324.730

About the author

John G. Geer is professor of political science at Vanderbilt University and the editor of the Journal of Politics, the editor of Politicians and Party Politics, and the author of Nominating Presidents: An Evaluation of Voters and Primaries and From Tea Leaves to Opinion Polls: Politicians, Information, and Leadership.

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