Is Too Much News Bad News for Candidates?

Only three of the top 10 election newsmakers were voted into office in Tuesday’s election. Analysis by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism found that the candidate who garnered the most media coverage during the campaign season was Christine O’Donnell, the Tea Party-backed candidate who won a stunning victory in Delaware’s GOP Senate primary, anddominated 160 election stories examined by PEJ. Others among the top 10, in order of their share of coverage, were Meg Whitman, Rand Paul, Joe Sestak, Sharron Angle, Harry Reid, Charlie Crist, Blanche Lincoln, Carl Paladino and Jerry Brown. Among the four Tea Party favorites on the list, only one, Kentucky GOP Senate candidate Rand Paul (3rd among candidates at 88 stories), was elected by the voters. On the losing list, in addition to O’Donnell, are: Nevada Republican Sharron Angle (5th at 80 stories), who mounted a stiff challenge to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (No. 6 election newsmaker,with 74 stories); and Carl Paladino, the GOP candidate for New York governor (52 stories). Another losing headline-generator was involved in one of the more high-profile races in the country — the gubernatorial contest in California. Meg Whitman, the Republican candidate who spent some $140 million of her own money was the No. 2 election newsmaker (90 stories.) Her opponent — veteran politician Jerry Brown finished in the 10th spot with 49 stories. Read More