Did Jon Stewart hurt the Democrats in Election 2010?

In the run-up to the election, comedy itself was no laughing matter.

More than a few pundits have pointed out that the world of political satire and punchlines has become a contact player on the field of electoral politics. This is particularly potent with the under-30 crowd which, more than any other demographic, turns to jokesters for news and political information. (One placard at the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert rally read, "My comedy channel: Fox. My news channel: Comedy Central.") It was, after all, only last year, that "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart was dubbed the most trusted man in America in an online poll. So, the question arises - what kind of impact did the funny folk have on this election cycle - one in which the numbers of young people voting dropped from 22 million in 2008 to 9 million?

The institutions that this generation relies on for information have shifted significantly says Peter Levine, director of Tufts University's Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, who tracks these numbers. Since comedy is a tool for amplifying the weaknesses or strengths of a political candidate, "it is having an impact," he says.

Even when there is no direct message, comedy has the power to do what political ads can't do, which is cause people to think beyond the storyline, says Austin-based political consultant Matt Glazer. "If you don't understand a joke on one of these shows, it will force you to think about the larger political context of the punch line," he says. "So it can be an incredibly powerful tool for getting people to think about things that might not ordinarily engage with political issues or candidates."