Zero-Sum Politics as a Trust Dilemma? How Race and Gender Affect Trust in Obama’s and Clinton’s Representation of Group Interests

Authors

Shayla Nunnally, University of Connecticut - StorrsFollow

Publication Date

Spring 2014

Abstract

- 103 - Zero-Sum Politics as a Trust Dilemma? How Race and Gender Affect Trust in Obama’s and Clinton’s Representation of Group Interests Shayla C. Nunnally University of Connecticut This analysis deploys multiple regression Models and uses embedded survey experiments from a 2007 national web-based survey to determine African American, Latino, and Caucasian Democrats’ trust in Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to represent racial, gender, and intersectional interests. Three hypotheses are tested to discern whether respondents’ trust varies based on their: 1) race trumping gender, 2) gender trumping race, and/or 3) intersectionality enhancing trust, when their race and gender mirror the candidate’s race and gender. Results indicate that Democrats of all racial groups trust Obama more than Clinton to represent African Americans’ and African American women’s interests. Democrats trust Clinton more to represent the interests of Caucasians, Caucasian women, Latinas, and women, in general. Gender differences between African American men and women indicate that African American women are more trusting than African American men of Clinton representing African Americans’ and African American women’s interests.

Recommended Citation

Nunnally, Shayla (2014) "Zero-Sum Politics as a Trust Dilemma? How Race and Gender Affect Trust in Obama’s and Clinton’s Representation of Group Interests," Ralph Bunche Journal of Public Affairs: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 8.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.tsu.edu/rbjpa/vol3/iss1/8