Press, Passion, and Portsmouth: Narratives About “Crying” on the Campaign Trail

Abstract

This study examined newspaper coverage of a Hillary Clinton campaign event held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire during the 2008 presidential primary. During the event Senator Clinton's eyes welled up with tears, and her voice conveyed emotion as she answered a question asked by a woman in the audience. The press gave significant coverage to the story and treated it as an important campaign event. This paper argues that the incident attracted significant public attention because the story about a woman candidate shedding tears resonated with existing fears and stereotypes about women's emotions and their ability to lead. Moreover, many press accounts framed the incident as giving insight into her character and as causing Clinton's unexpected win in the New Hampshire primary. These elements made for a good story and a compelling narrative.

Key Words:

• Clinton
• Press Coverage
• Women
• Emotion
• Tears
• Politics