Title

Patriots, Plumbers, and Our Better Angels: The Establishment of Ethos in the Rhetoric of the 2008 Presidential Campaigns of Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama

Date of Award

4-6-2009

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Thesis

Department

English

First Advisor

Carol Reeves

Library of Congress Classification

PE

Abstract

The focus of this thesis will be the rhetoric of the candidates for the two major parties—Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic President Barack Obama (who in this thesis will be referred to under the title he held during the campaign, Senator Obama). This thesis will examine the various ways in which the two candidates attempted to establish ethos during their respective campaigns.