Candidates in a two-person race express very similar positions a few weeks before the election. A voter complains that there is not much difference between the two candidates. What this voter misunderstands or ignores is that

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a two-person race, each candidate has an incentive to be perceived as moderate and in the "middle of the road" in order to appeal to a broad range of voters. If both candidates correctly act on this incentive, they may end up sounding alike, even if they have different underlying beliefs or policies. Therefore, the lack of clear differences between the two candidates may not reflect a lack of ideological diversity, but rather a successful strategy to win over swing voters.

Candidates in a Two-Person Race Express Very Similar Positions a Few