WSU researcher finds Harris may have edge in energizing supporters
Study shows Dem voters perceived Trump as a greater threat than GOP did the vice president
PULLMAN — A research study at Washington State University that monitored audiences’ live reactions to the Tuesday presidential debate showed a bigger emotional response from Democratic voters than Republicans.
The study used rings worn by participants that measure sweat gland activity, an involuntary response triggered by the sympathetic nervous system in response to stress.
The results showed that Democratic voters perceived former President Donald Trump as a greater threat than Republicans did Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Democrat participants, all the way down at this unconscious, raw, evolutionarily derived brain level, perceive Trump as a threat,” said researcher Paul Bolls. “Republicans, their bodies are not responding particularly to Harris as if she is literally a threat.”
Bolls conducted the study alongside Yen-I Lee, who co-directs the Murrow Media Mind Lab with him. He said people who perceive a political opponent as if they were a physical threat could affect the political action a person takes or how they talk about politics.
“How Harris performed in the debate appears to be more effective at energizing Democrat voters than how Trump performed in the debate at energizing Republican voters at this physiological, raw, motivational level,” Bolls said.
In a post-debate survey, participants were asked if they would be willing to donate a portion of a $50 online gift card they received for participation toward the candidate for their party.
“Democrats were more willing to donate part of their incentive to the Harris campaign than Republicans were willing to donate part of their incentive to the Trump campaign,” Bolls said.
Democrats also were willing to donate a greater percentage of their reward, Bolls said. Among Democrats, the average amount participants were willing to donate was about $10. For Republicans, it was slightly under $5.
The study also found that Democratic voters had a stronger favorable response to Harris than Republican voters did for Trump.
Bolls says the difference might give Harris a leg up among some undecided voters in what’s called “the enthusiasm gap.”
That doesn’t make a big difference for voters who have already decided who they want to vote for, Bolls said. But it could affect the small percentage of undecided voters.
“Debates rarely change minds,” Bolls said. “But they might impact the likelihood (of someone) to actually show up and vote.”
Sun may be contacted at rsun@lmtribune.com or on Twitter at @Rachel_M_Sun. This report is made in partnership with Northwest Public Broadcasting, the Lewiston Tribune and the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
