Final answer:
Scandals can hurt a president's popularity by leading to negative media coverage, erosion of trust, and diversion of attention from policy agenda.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scandals can hurt a president's popularity in several ways. When a scandal breaks, it often leads to negative media coverage and public scrutiny, which can erode trust and support for the president. Scandals can also divert attention away from the president's policy agenda, making it more difficult for the president to accomplish their goals. Additionally, the severity and impact of the scandal can influence how much a president's popularity is affected. For example, major scandals such as Watergate during President Nixon's administration had a significant negative impact on his popularity.