ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of existing knowledge as to how scandal coverage impacts the electoral fate of political candidates. It reviews some of the most widely documented electoral effects associated with media attention to political scandals. The chapter explores some of the prominent streams of research in these areas. It examines scandal fatigue which can occur when the public becomes desensitized to ongoing scandal coverage. The chapter deals with some areas where future research has the potential to enhance significantly understanding of the intersection of scandal, media effects, and political candidates. It also reviews some of the major streams of research that have assessed how factors such as scandal type, candidate characteristics, electoral context, and media coverage characteristics influence the way voters react to politicians embroiled in scandal. The chapter discusses three broad categories: sex scandals, financial scandals, and corruption scandals.
