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Majority of voters disapprove political name-calling: FAU poll
Over 85 percent of respondents said it is unacceptable for politicians to attack family members of their political rivals in speeches
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A significant number of voters, over 80 percent, do not approve of political name-calling a new national poll conducted by Florida Atlantic University’s Political Communication and Public Opinion Research Lab found.
The poll was conducted between February 2 to 3, among a sample of 1,180 adults, 18 years or older, residing in the U.S.
It found that 69 percent of respondents regarded voicing critical opinions about the personal characteristics of opposing candidates as “unacceptable” while 81 percent disapproved of candidates attacking the families of their rivals.
This comes after former President Donald Trump recently mocked Nikki Haley’s husband who is deployed overseas, for not showing up on the campaign trail.
“What happened to her husband? Where is he?” Trump said at a rally on February 10, in Conway, South Carolina. “He’s gone,” Trump remarked, implying that his absence was due to personal reasons.
However, Haley’s husband, Michael Haley, is an officer of the South Carolina Army National Guard, currently deployed supporting the US Africa Command.
“Voters recognize negative campaigning can contribute to a toxic political climate, impede constructive debate, and erode public trust in the political process,” said Carol Bishop Mills, Ph.D., communication professor at FAU, PolCom co-director, and expert in bullying research.
“When candidates resort to attacking each other and their families, they divert attention from crucial issues that may influence voting choices,” she added.
The former president has also often displayed a tendency to use nicknames for his political rivals. Haley, has had several nicknames directed at her, including “Tricky Nicky” and “Birdbrain”. Trump even mocked her maiden name and misspelled it as “Nimrada” drawing backlash from several quarters.
The poll also revealed that immigration will be a key issue that can influence voter behavior and expectations in the elections. Approximately 42 percent of respondents said immigration has a weakening effect on American culture, while 45 percent said they think immigration has strengthened American culture.
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