This thesis conducted research on the impact of campaign visits on levels of predicted voter choice within the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. Data on discrete events throughout the campaign were collected to first determine the impact of particular newsworthy events on predicted voter choice. The data show that the impact of these events dissipates prior to Election Day, leading to a minimal impact on voter decision making. Additionally, data were analyzed on the occurrence of both candidate and surrogate visits, attempting to add to the field of research regarding the impact of campaign visits on voters. Throughout the analysis, both safe and swing states were taken into consideration, to determine if campaigns have a similar impact in different types of states. Overall, fourteen individual states were examined, providing a rather small sample size, but focusing on where campaigns were concentrated most. The results showed that the minimal effects hypothesis is still mostly affirmed, but that candidate visits appear to have a greater influence on predicted voter choice than do surrogate visits, regardless of the popularity of the surrogate. / Master of Arts / This thesis conducted research on the impact that candidate visits had on voters. The research focused on the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. In addition to focusing on the role of campaign visits, eight specific events from the campaign were selected to attempt to determine the impact that newsworthy events had on voters. The data show that the impact of these events is not lasting and does not appear to have an impact on the outcome of the election. Additionally, visits by both candidates and surrogates (those visiting on behalf of a candidate) were analyzed in order to determine whether these visits led to a change in voter choice. Throughout the analysis, states favoring one candidate as well as divided or swing states were taken into consideration to determine if campaigns impacted voters in different states in different ways. Overall, fourteen individual states were examined, providing a rather small sample size, but focusing on where campaigning was concentrated most. The results showed that candidate visits have very little impact on whom voters ultimately choose, but that candidate visits appear to have a greater influence on this than do surrogate visits, regardless of the popularity of the surrogate.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/85847 |
| Date | 14 November 2018 |
| Creators | Hedrick, Magdeline Joy |
| Contributors | Political Science, Jewitt, Caitlin E., Kelly, Jason P., Hult, Karen M. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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