The Behavioral Consequences of Vice-Presidential Debates

In this article I examine a much neglected area of American politics: the political consequences of vice-presidential debates. Specifically, I explore how perceptions of candidate performance in the 1984 and 1988 vice-presidential debates influenced vote intention and evaluations of the vice-presidential candidates. Using panel surveys that allow for the control of predebate vote choice and political predispositions, these results indicate that vice-presidential debates do influence public opinion. Additional data are used to illustrate the aggregate effects of vice-presidential debates.