COLUMBUS – Arrests, cancelled rallies, and heated exchanges among candidates plagued the presidential campaign last weekend and could affect voter turnout for Tuesday’s primary in Ohio.
Political science lecturer at the University of Dayton, Dan Birdsong, says the media reports can influence voter perception and a focus on the disruptions instead of meaningful issues can disengage voters.
“People throwing punches and that sort of shenanigans that are going on; if that becomes the coverage, then it turns things on its head the story’s not about policy it’s more about the uglier side of things. So, people can see this and be turned off by the process,” he said.
When there are several candidates running, as is the situation in the Republican race, Birdsong admits it is a challenge to ensure coverage is fair. And if a front-runner receives more media attention, he says it not only builds their name recognition, but voters learn less about other candidates.
Disruptions at Donald Trump rallies, and the reactions to them by his opponents, dominated headlines for most of the weekend.