POL SCI 40 Chapter 1: PS40 - Zaller and Campbell
24 Dec 2016
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Public opinion = opinions held by private individuals which gov find it wise to give attention to. Gov most prudent to heed opinions that opponents might stir up at the next election. Latent opinion in practice of politics and gov, is really about the only type of opinion that generates a lot of anxiety. Gives no clues to the convertibility of opinion into votes legislator. When a politician believes that he knows better than the public what means will lead to desired ends, he will ignore the polls and follow his own beliefs latent opinion = entity that is not directly observable. Substantial majorities of us hold generally unfavorable rather than favorable views of both candidates. Trump has business scandals, no political exp, and continues to be rude and full of insults. Demo look to liberals and repub look to more conservatives than had before. Recent econ growth weak and work against the democrats.
