TAKING CREDIT AND AVOIDING BLAME - GOOD-NEWS, SPIN CONTROL, AND DEMOCRATIC ACCOUNTABILITY

Relying on experimental methodology, we find that positive and negativ e reports of specific aspects of the economy influence the audience's assessments of political responsibility for the state of the economy. In addition, whether the president actively attempts to take credit (i n the case of positive economic news) or attempts to avoid blame (in t he case of negative economic news) also influences assessments. Finall y, we find that effects are largely dependent on individual levels of partisanship.