ABSTRACT
The perceptions that voters have of the character traits of the presidential candidates influence their voting behavior. Independents generally are more strongly affected by their trait perceptions than are Democrats or Republicans, but partisans are influenced by the assessments they have of their party's candidate, relative to the opponent. The nature of the modern presidency, especially regarding foreign affairs and national security, demands an individual who can be in control, act decisively, and get things done. Presidential candidates often have been criticized for failing to display strong leadership skills. Perceptions of leadership and empathy tend to be more important than perceptions of competence or integrity in affecting the vote. Voters were influenced more by their perceptions of empathy in 2004 than they were in 2008. Voters were generally pleased with the performance of the first Bill Clinton administration, as reflected by an approval rating of over 50 percent in the summer of 1996.
