ABSTRACT
This chapter shows instances of how a gaffe or impropriety can quickly turn a politician into a national laughingstock. But a more difficult question is whether political humor can systematically undermine the public image of its unfortunate targets day in and day out. Every four years, two candidates—each represent one of the major political parties—engage in a lengthy struggle to win the hearts and minds of voters. The chapter looks at the relationship among jokes, news, and unfavorable ratings in presidential election campaigns. The focus of late night comedy during national elections has always been mostly on the candidates. The chapter examines more systematically the ways in which public perceptions of candidates are related to their targeting by late night comedians. It also examines the association among candidates' unfavorability ratings, the tone of their television news coverage, and the percentage of jokes told at their expense each week until Election Day through a series of charts.
