When the President Goes Public: The Consequences of Communication Mode for Opinion Change across Issue Types and Groups

Tedin, Kent, Rottinghaus, Brandon, Rodgers, Harrell, Political Research Quarterly

Abstract

Evidence is mounting that presidents find difficulty in leading public opinion. However, focusing on presidential ability to lead mass opinion may underestimate the degree to which presidents are able to rally key groups on political and personal characteristics. In this article, the authors use an experimental design to test the effect of communication mode across issue types and groups. From three of President Bush's speeches on Iraq (the State of the Union, an Oval Office address, and a press conference), the data show that by going public the president can influence political opinions across certain issue types and groups. Among the findings are that the groups most …

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Publication information: Article title: When the President Goes Public: The Consequences of Communication Mode for Opinion Change across Issue Types and Groups. Contributors: Tedin, Kent - Author, Rottinghaus, Brandon - Author, Rodgers, Harrell - Author. Journal title: Political Research Quarterly. Volume: 64. Issue: 3 Publication date: September 2011. Page number: 506+. © 2002 Political Research Quarterly. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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