Tea Party movement mobilization: Examining the role of emotive cues and strategic appeals

Campaign messages used by political parties have given scholars a rich opportunity to analyze the impact that such cues may have on voters. While voter mobilization and participation is a necessity for a democracy\u27s survival, certain messages used by very conservative movements and conservative parties may encourage intolerance towards minorities. This study examines the racial cues and appeals used by the Tea Party movement in the United States and the influence that such emotionally-charged appeals have on citizen support for very conservative political parties, movements, and policies. As my main theoretical framework, I merge political opportunity theory and intergroup emotions theory. Regarding my methodological approach, I combine in-depth case study research and quantitative analyses using data from a national poll conducted by CBS News/New York Times in 2010. As the literature on the Tea Party movement continues to develop, this study offers a new and more systematic perspective in an area lacking empirical research