Gastkommentar: Wut schlägt Argumente: Wie die AfD Emotionen im Wahlkampf nutzt

In the days leading up to the Landtagswahl in Sachsen-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's primary candidate, is rapidly becoming a major figure. He is portrayed as a relatable son-in-law and a powerful challenger to the political establishment on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Media outlets, such as Spiegel, have even labeled him the "most dangerous man in Germany."

This portrayal has likely contributed to his growing popularity and the perception that he is an exceptionally strong candidate. However, our survey data provides a different picture.

While Siegmund's values have recently increased, and he has now overtaken CDU candidate Sven Schulze in the direct voting comparison, the same cannot be said for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The AfD's candidate there, Leif-Erik Holm, also garners values around 30 percent, despite lacking the same media attention. Furthermore, Siegmund's personal values remain below the overall AfD values in the Sunday question. This suggests that the party is more influential than the individual candidates.