Rhodebeck Laurie A
a Department of Political Science , University of Louisville , Louisville , Kentucky , USA.
J Homosex. 2015;62(6):701-34. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2014.998954. Epub 2015 Jan 26.
Drawing from the theory of policy voting, this study examines the impact of opinions about gay rights on voting for presidential candidates. Qualitative analysis of the major party platforms and candidate campaign rhetoric from the six presidential elections held between 1988 and 2008 indicates that Democratic and Republican presidential candidates began openly expressing opposing positions on gay rights issues in 1992. Quantitative analysis of public opinion shows that, starting in 1992 and continuing through 2008, gay rights issues became more salient to the public, and opinions about gay rights began to exert a significant effect on vote choice. The study concludes with a discussion of the partisan forces that shaped the electoral significance of gay rights issues during the period from 1988 to 2008 and speculation about the role of gay rights issues in shaping future partisan electoral strategy.
基于政策投票理论，本研究考察了关于同性恋权利的观点对总统候选人投票的影响。对1988年至2008年间举行的六次总统选举中主要政党纲领和候选人竞选言辞的定性分析表明，民主党和共和党总统候选人在1992年开始公开表达在同性恋权利问题上的对立立场。对公众舆论的定量分析显示，从1992年开始并持续到2008年，同性恋权利问题对公众而言变得更加突出，并且关于同性恋权利的观点开始对投票选择产生重大影响。该研究最后讨论了在1988年至2008年期间塑造同性恋权利问题选举意义的党派力量，并推测了同性恋权利问题在塑造未来党派选举策略中的作用。
