Political debates are an important facet of modern election campaigns. How politicians frame an argument, how the audience perceives it, and how the media decides to display it are key components in analyzing the outcome of a political debate, and ultimately, an election. Drawing mainly on the functional theory of political campaign discourse, William L. Benoit examines a wide variety of debates not only in the United States but across the globe. Because each phase of election offers new challenges, specific attention is paid to how primary versus general and incumbency influence the content of political leaders debate practices. Specifically, the book delves into the history and nature of debates in various United States elections, including presidential, vice presidential, senatorial, gubernatorial, and mayoral candidates. Also examined are debates ranging from the United Kingdom to South Korea to Australia. Benoit also employs the issues ownership theory and functional federalism theory as a deeper part of the analysis. This book offers a critical examination and comprehensive overview of election debate theory.

Political Election Debates: Informing Voters about Policy and Character presents theory and research on political leaders debates. Election debates in the U.S. (presidential primary, presidential general, vice presidential, senate, gubernatorial, and mayoral debates) and around the world (e.g., Germany, Israel, UK, South Korea, Taiwan, France) are explored. News coverage of debates is also examined.

Chapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: Theory and Method: Functional Theory of Political Campaign DiscourseChapter 3: American Presidential Campaign DebatesChapter 4: American Non-Presidential and World Political Campaign DebatesChapter 5: Incumbency in Political Campaign DebatesChapter 6: Campaign Phase in Political Campaign DebatesChapter 7: News Coverage of Political Campaign DebatesChapter 8: Issue Ownership, Functional Federalism, and Retrospective versus Prospective Voting in American Political Campaign DebatesChapter 9: ConclusionAppendix I. List of U.S. Presidential Primary, General, and Vice Presidential Campaign DebatesAppendix II. Viewers for American Presidential and Vice Presidential DebatesAppendix III. Forms of Policy and Character in Debates