| Politics: coattail effect |
The tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election. For example, the party of a victorious presidential candidate will often win many seats in Congress as well; these congressmen are voted into office “on the coattails” of the president.
| 5min Related Video: Coattail effect |
| WordNet: coattails effect |
The noun has one meaning:
Meaning #1:
(politics) the consequence of one popular candidate in an election drawing votes for other members of the same party
Synonym: coattails
| Wikipedia: Coattail effect |
 |
It has been suggested that Reagan's coattails be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |
The coattail effect is the tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election. For example, in the United States, the party of a victorious presidential candidate will often win many seats in Congress as well; these congressmen are voted into office “on the coattails” of the president.
This theory is prevalent at all levels of government. A popular statewide candidate for governor or senator can attract support for down ballot races of their party as well. The term of voting a straight ticket can also be used.
This is prevalent in the United Kingdom especially in a general election. People have a tendency to vote on the bases of a political party instead of the MP for their area.
 |
This election-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
 | Presidential coattails |
| Riding coattails |
| Reagan's coattails |
Copyrights:
 |
 | Politics. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved. Read more |
 |
| WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Read more |
 |
| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Coattail effect". Read more |
|
