Final answer:
Reporters writing horse race stories focus on the election's competitiveness, emphasizing polls and candidate rankings over policy positions, which can result in a less informed electorate.
Step-by-step explanation:
When reporters write horse race stories, they tend to focus on the competitive aspects of the election rather than in-depth analysis of the candidates' policies or positions. The coverage often includes a significant amount of polling information, emphasizing who is leading or trailing at various points in the campaign. Such reporting can vary from neutral to positive or negative, and tends to highlight more of the strategic moves and momentary blunders of candidates, rather than their voting histories or substantive issue positions. This style of coverage can result in the public receiving less comprehensive information about where candidates stand on important issues.
Horse race journalism also tends to prioritize the spectacle and drama of the campaign over substantive discussion of policy issues. As a result, campaign strategies, sound bites, and occasional gaffes get more attention than serious political discussion. Media coverage in this vein may contribute to a less informed electorate, as the focus on polling and rankings does not provide voters with the necessary details to make a well-rounded decision about a candidate's competencies and viewpoints.