Tulsi Gabbard is the 2020 field's conflict-seeking lightning rod
Published Date: 12/11/2019
Source: axios.com
Data: NewsWhip; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/AxiosWhile Democratic provocateur Tulsi Gabbard doesn't get written about as much as top-tier candidates, data suggests she's the most provocative.The big picture: Her war of words with Hillary Clinton in October and her appeal to viral, right-wing media have driven outsized interest in stories about her, according to data from NewsWhip provided exclusively to Axios.By the numbers: Over the last three months, stories about Gabbard have averaged 858 interactions on social media (likes, comments, shares) — more than any other candidate.The other leaders for interactions per story are the field's front-runners. Only Joe Biden (851) comes close, though many of the biggest articles about him are related to Trump, Ukraine and impeachment.The backstory: Gabbard's friendly fire against Democrats has made for some of the most viral moments of the primary.She fired back after Hillary Clinton suggested that Russia was "grooming her to be the third-party candidate."She went after Kamala Harris for her criminal justice record in the July 31 debate.The two also mixed it up in the Nov. 20 debate.Gabbard and Pete Buttigieg also had a heated exchange in the November debate.Between the lines: Her attacks on Democrats and the party have made her a favorite for right-wing media publications, many of which have supercharged social media audiences.Of the 15 biggest stories about Gabbard over the last three months, 12 have come from right-leaning publishers.The top five stories:Tulsi Gabbard calls Hillary Clinton the ‘embodiment of corruption’ — New York Post (291k interactions)Gabbard dares Clinton to run for president in 2020, fights back against assertions that she is a Russian asset — Fox News (109k)Gabbard to Clinton: You are 'queen of warmongers ... personification of the rot that has sickened' Democrats — CNS News (103k)Hillary Clinton suggests Russians are 'grooming' Tulsi Gabbard for third-party run — CNN (90k)Gabbard threatens to boycott Ohio debate, claims DNC is 'rigging' primaries — Fox News (85k)Our 2020 attention tracker is based on data from NewsWhip exclusively provided to Axios as part of a project that will regularly update throughout the 2020 campaign.See all past editions of the tracker here.Data: NewsWhip; Chart: Chris Canipe/Axios - Note: Hover over the weekly rank on desktop to see articles and interactions for each candidate and issue.