The table entries are the average thermometer scores assigned by respondents to various groups in the 1996 American National Election Study. N for the entire table ranges from 1089-1199 by the stimulus group.

Ideological self-identification is derived from the question: "We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives. Here is a seven-point scale on which the political views that people might hold are arranged from extremely liberal to extremely conservative. Where would you place YOURSELF on this scale, or haven't you thought much about this?" Respondents who placed themselves at positions 1-3 were coded as liberals, persons who selected the midpoint value of 4 were coded as moderates and persons in positions 5-7 were coded as conservatives.

The thermometer score refers to the following question: "I'd like to get your feelings toward some of our political leaders and other people who are in the news these days. I'll read the name of a person and I'd like you to rate that person using something we call the feeling thermometer. Ratings between 50 degrees and 100 degrees mean that you feel favorable and warm toward the person. Ratings between 0 degrees and 50 degrees mean that you don't feel favorable toward that person and that you don't care too much for that person. You would rate the person at the 50 degree mark if you don't feel particular warm or cold toward the person. If we come to a person whose name you don't recognize, you don't need to rate that person. Just tell me and we'll move on to the next one." The specific stimuli were introduced by asking "Still using the thermometer, how would you rate ______________?"