Why Tulsi Gabbard’s post-debate Google spike should come with a grain of salt

(Image credit: JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

published 27 June 2019

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) seemingly won the Google search debate Wednesday night. That doesn't necessarily mean she'll see a spike in the polls.

Following Gabbard's appearance alongside nine other Democrats during the first primary debate, Google Trends reported that the Iraq veteran had become the most-searched candidate in a majority of states. She also won an apparent "instant poll" from Drudge Report — not that that means much of anything.

Gabbard was quick to tout the fact that she, along with Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), dominated Google searches after the debate. But seeing as Gabbard was a relative unknown going into Wednesday night, there's a strong chance viewers were just searching to learn more about a candidate they'd never heard of, especially after her spat with a stuttering Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) over who conducted the 9/11 terror attacks. There's no way of knowing whether those searchers were impressed with Gabbard or not — though it's hard to argue that rising search interest is a bad thing.

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Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.

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