coattail effect
Riding another's popularity
The coattail effect is when a popular candidate boosts the electoral success of lesser-known candidates from the same party.
Voters drawn to the top of the ticket—a presidential or gubernatorial race—cast ballots for the entire party slate: Several congressional newcomers rode in on the president's coattails.
The effect works in reverse too; an unpopular leader can drag down the whole ticket.
- bandwagonSurging popular cause
- electionOrganized public voting
- landslideMass of earth falling
- popularityMass public favor
- ridingControlling while mounted
momentum · surge · wave election · ticket · party line · downballot · straight ticket · incumbent · wave · sweep · endorsement · frontrunner · charisma · turnout · voter turnout · campaign · victory · spillover
- presidencyOval Office, president, Washington, executive branch, veto