Campaign 2000: A Functional Analysis of Presidential Campaign Discourse

Campaign 2000 applies the functional theory of political campaign discourse—analyzing how messages acclaim, attack, or defend—to several different forms of campaign communication in the 2000 U.S. presidential primary and general election. These forms include political advertisements on television and radio, debates, television talk show appearances, campaign web pages, and convention speeches by candidates and their spouses. The authors also look at the election outcomes and explore lessons to apply to future campaign discourse.

Campaign 2000 applies the functional theory of political campaign discourse—analyzing how messages acclaim, attack, or defend—to several different forms of campaign communication in the 2000 U.S. presidential primary and general election. These forms include political advertisements on television and radio, debates, television talk show appearances, campaign web pages, and convention speeches by candidates and their spouses. The authors also look at the election outcomes and explore lessons to apply to future campaign discourse.

William L. Benoit is professor of communication at the University of Missouri. John P. McHale is an assistant professor at Illinois State University. Glenn J. Hansen is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri. P. M. Pier teaches at Wartberg College. John P. McGuire teaches at Oklahoma State University.