Analyze the trends in campaign advertising during the general election. What do these trends suggest about the campaign strategies deployed by candidates during the general election? Use examples to illustrate your points

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The ideal answer should:
a. Explain that campaign advertising is the primary source of information for voters,noting thatthere is little agreement about the long-term effects of campaign advertising on voter attitudes.
b. Discussthe increase in the number of negative advertisements, noting that while most people vilify this practice, the benefits outweigh the political costs in spite of legislation like the Stand by Your Ad requirement.
c. Analyze the spending trends between the two parties, noting that while both predictably ramp up spending before Election Day, there is a clear partisan different in the source of the funding for the ads.
d.Identify that although candidates rely heavily on advertising,the bulk of that advertising is aimed specifically at a small number of competitive swing states, using the spending patterns of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in 2012 as a relevant example.