Found this via LINGUIST. It suggests that a subtle kind of accommodation correlates with the results of presidential elections. They looked at every presidential debate since 1960 and found that in every case, the candidate with the 'most steadfast' voice won the popular vote, up to and including when Gore won the popular vote last time.

The LINGUIST post, from Richard Sproat, raises some interesting questions and points out at least one definite error in the story. Let me know if you don't follow what he's saying.

B-)