Why do candidates attack? Explanatory factors in negative television political advertising

Abstract

Facing the concern of increasing incivility in political campaigns, we present a content analysis of negative advertising broadcast in four Mexican presidential elections, to explain the factors that shape their treats and likelihood of emission (2000 to 2018, N=108). Three factors are significant: competitiveness of the elections raises the likelihood of attacks; strict regulation makes them subtler, and party ideology determines the tactics followed.