For Better or Worse?: How Political Consultants Are Changing Elections in the United States

by Dulio, David A.

• ISBN13: 9780791460443
• ISBN10: 0791460444
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-03-01
• Publisher: State Univ of New York Pr

Summary

"For Better or Worse? offers a fresh look at how professional campaign consultants have both positive and negative effects on democracy in the United States. Questioning much of the previailing conventional wisdom, David A. Dulio employs a unique set of data that empirically examines consultants' own attitudes and beliefs to evaluate where they stand in modern democratic elections. Furthermore, he explores their relationships with candidates, voters, political parties, and the media, revealing that political consultants play an integral role in U.S. elections.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	ix
List of Tables	vi
Preface	xv
Introduction	1	(12)
Consultants Enter the Electioneering Mix	13	(28)
Who are these Guys Anyway?	41	(24)
Electoral Connections: Consultants, Candidates, Voters, and the Press	65	(36)
Party Favors?: Have Consultants Replaced Political Parties?	101	(34)
Consultants' Effects on Candidate Fund-raising and Electoral Success	135	(32)
For Better or Worse---What Hath the Consultants Wrought?	167	(20)
Appendices	187	(48)
Notes	235	(26)
Bibliography	261	(20)
Index	281