Abstract
In the run up to the 2020 election on November 3, 2020, two presidential and one vice presidential debate were held (another planned presidential debate was cancelled because of coronavirus). The presidential debates used attacks more than acclaims – and more than previous debates (the vice presidential debate was fairly similar to previous VP debates). Biden and Trump discussed policy more than character (as did the VP debate and previous presidential and vice presidential debates). Unlike most previous encounters, conflicting with the theoretical prediction and in contrast to the vice presidential debate, the two Biden Trump debates in 2020 attacked more than they acclaimed. All three debates emphasized policy more than character, in line with theory and past research.
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Recommended Citation
Benoit, William L. and Stein, Kevin A.
(2022)
"2020 General Presidential Debates: The Coronavirus Clash,"
Speaker & Gavel: Vol. 58:
Iss.
1, Article 3.
Available at:
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/speaker-gavel/vol58/iss1/3