Presidential campaigns are less important than previously thought in influencing how people vote

Presidential candidates put vast amounts of money and resources into lengthy campaigns. But to what extent are voters influenced by these campaigns? Using new research, Peter Enns argues that the fundamentals, such as economic conditions and incumbent approval ratings, are the most important determinants of voters’ choices. He finds that voters’ interest in elections has more to do with relying on these fundamentals than knowledge about the candidates or attention paid to the campaign.