McCain’s Election Defeat A Big Let Down For His Male Supporters

I don’t know what this is worth, but it is odd, interesting…or something.

Researchers at Duke University studied testosterone levels in voters during last November’s election. Those who cast ballots for Barack Obama, John McCain and Libertarian Bob Barr had their testosterone levels checked after voting and at periods later that evening.

For women voters there was no change in testosterone levels. Male Obama voters also did not have a significant change in testosterone levels.

It was a different story for McCain and Barr voters. Both showed precipitous drops in testosterone levels immediately. When Obama was announced the winner, McCain and Barr levels had dropped significantly, but recovered slightly within twenty minutes. Yet, another twenty minutes later, the levels had dropped even further than the period immediately after Obama was announced the winner.

Men’s testosterone levels are supposed to drop slightly during the night, but not like it did for McCain and Barr voters.

“Voters participate in elections both directly by casting their ballots, and vicariously because they don’t personally win or lose the election,” said researcher Steven Stanton.

I can understand the let down McCain voters must have felt, but Barr voters? They knew Barr was only going to gather a few votes. What’s up with that drop?

The study did not follow up on it, but I bet McCain and Barr supporters had less sex that night too.