Poll numbers, media frame debates
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 By Adam Bednar, Times Staff Writer
The competitiveness of a campaign and the media coverage of it are major factors that affect how voters view a political debate.
Gov. Martin O'Malley and former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich taped the gubernatorial campaign's first of four debates Monday morning, and it was broadcast that night.
Before noon, both campaigns tried to frame the results as a triumph for their respective candidates by sending out e-mails claiming victory to news organizations.
Controlling the tone of the coverage during the following news cycle is almost as important as the candidates' performance in the debate, according to Richard Vatz, a professor of communication and rhetoric at Towson University.
"Many people don't get their reactions from the debate itself; they get it from the reporting of the debate," he said.
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Herb Smith, a professor of political science at McDaniel College, also said the impact of a debate is relative to a campaign's competitiveness.
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20101012 CCT Bednar Poll numbers media frame debates
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