The Road to the White House 2004 The Politics of Presidential Elections (with InfoTrac)

by Wayne, Stephen J.

• ISBN13: 9780534614256
• ISBN10: 0534614256
• Edition: 7th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-21
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Stephen Wayne, a leading scholar of presidential electoral politics, describes and analyzes the crucial politics, procedures, and strategies behind campaign finance, media relations, nominating conventions, and the general election. The post-election edition includes a thorough analysis of the entire 2000 presidential election and its dramatic conclusion. Coverage of the Money Race in 2000, with special emphasis on the new McCain-Feingold law and its implications for the money race in 2004. The strategies and tactics of the 2000 presidential nominations and elections. "The Air Wars of 2000" advertising by the candidates, parties, and outside groups in the 2000 presidential nominations and elections The Florida election controversy and its implication for future presidential elections. Focusing on the facts of how the presidential election system works and summarizing the state of the art and science of presidential electoral politics at the beginning of the 21st century, this text is a must for any study of presidential elections. Organized in four parts: first, discussing the arena in which presidential elections occur-the electoral system, campaign finance, and the political environment; second, describing the various stages of the presidential campaign; third, discussing the general election campaign; and last, looking at the election, its significance, and its likely consequences.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
About the Author	xiii
PART I THE ELECTORAL ARENA
1 Presidential Selection: A Historical Overview	3	(29)
Introduction	3	(1)
The Creation of the Electoral College	4	(2)
The Development of Nominating Systems	6	(7)
The Evolution of the General Election	13	(4)
The 2000 Presidential Election Controversy	17	(6)
The Legal Challenges	17	(3)
The Public Relations Campaign	20	(3)
The Politics of Electoral College Voting	23	(9)
Summary	25	(2)
Where on the Web?	27	(1)
Exercises	27	(1)
Selected Reading	28	(1)
Notes	29	(3)
2 Campaign Finance	32	(33)
Introduction	32	(1)
The Costs of Campaigning	33	(3)
The Sources of Support	36	(2)
Finance Legislation	38	(6)
Box 2-1: Exploiting the Soft Money Loophole	41	(2)
Box 2-2: Contribution Limits (before and after McCain-Feingold)	43	(1)
The Impact of the Law	44	(13)
Revenue	44	(6)
Box 2-3: The Well-Funded Candidate's Dilemma: To Accept or Reject Government Funds	50	(1)
Box 2-4: The Money Race for the 2000 Nomination	51	(2)
Expenditures	53	(3)
Competition Between Parties and Their Candidates	56	(1)
Money and Electoral Success	57	(1)
Summary	58	(2)
Where on the Web?	60	(1)
Exercises	61	(1)
Selected Reading	61	(1)
Notes	62	(3)
3 The Political Environment	65	(38)
Introduction	65	(1)
Turnout	66	(11)
The Expansion of Suffrage	68	(3)
Other Influences on Turnout	71	(1)
Box 3-1: Registering to Vote	72	(4)
Turnout and Partisanship	76	(1)
The Partisan Basis of Politics	77	(6)
A Model of the U.S. Voter	77	(2)
A More Refined Theory of Voting	79	(1)
Partisan Voting Patterns	80	(1)
Partisan Deviations	81	(2)
The Social Basis of Politics	83	(10)
The New Deal Realignment	83	(2)
Evolving Political Coalitions	85	(7)
The Future of the Parties	92	(1)
Summary	93	(1)
Where on the Web?	94	(1)
Exercises	95	(1)
Selected Reading	95	(1)
Notes	96	(7)
PART II THE NOMINATION
4 The Race for Delegates	103	(56)
Introduction	103	(1)
Reforming the Nomination Process	104	(7)
Democratic Rules, 1968-1980	104	(3)
Box 4-1. The Iowa Caucus: How It Works	107	(1)
Democratic Rules, 1981-Present	108	(2)
Republican Rules	110	(1)
The Legality of Party Rules	111	(3)
The Impact of the Rules Changes	114	(4)
Turnout	114	(1)
Representation	115	(1)
Party Organization and Leadership	116	(1)
Winners and Losers	117	(1)
Campaigning for Delegates	118	(30)
Basic Strategic Guidelines	118	(10)
Box 4-2. The Air Wars of 2000: The Nominations	128	(8)
The Non-Front-Runner Strategy: Stepping-Stones to Prominence	136	(1)
Box 4-3: Non-Front-Runner Strategies in 2000	137	(5)
Other Non-Front-Runner Approaches: Using the Campaign as a Pulpit	142	(1)
The Front-Runner Strategy: Amassing Delegates	143	(1)
Box 4-4: Front-Runner Strategies in 2000	144	(4)
Summary	148	(1)
Where on the Web?	149	(2)
Exercises	151	(1)
Selected Reading	151	(1)
Notes	152	(7)
5 Spring Interregnum: Consolidating Victory and Posturing for the Election	159	(34)
The Noncompetitive Phase of the Nomination Campaign	159	(5)
Image Repair	159	(2)
Repositioning and Reprioritizing the Issues	161	(1)
Healing Partisan Discord	162	(1)
The Prelude to the Conventions	162	(2)
National Nominating Conventions	164	(18)
The Tradition	164	(2)
The Official Proceedings	166	(4)
Intra- and Interparty Disputes	170	(2)
Convention Strategies and Tactics	172	(1)
Box 5-1: Contrasts in the 2000 Republican and Democratic Party Platforms	173	(1)
The Mediated Convention: Theater and News	174	(4)
Box 5-2: Minor Party Conventions	178	(1)
Assessing the Convention's Impact	179	(3)
Characteristics of the Nominees	182	(2)
Summary	184	(2)
Where on the Web?	186	(1)
Exercises	186	(1)
Selected Reading	187	(1)
Notes	187	(6)
PART III THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
6 Organization, Strategy, and Tactics	193	(32)
Introduction	193	(4)
Organization	197	(4)
Running the Campaign	197	(3)
Transitioning to Government	200	(1)
Strategic Objectives	201	(11)
Designing a Basic Appeal	202	(2)
Creating a Leadership Image	204	(3)
Dealing with Incumbency	207	(1)
Building a Winning Geographic Coalition	208	(1)
Box 6-1: An Incumbency Balance Sheet	209	(3)
Tactical Considerations	212	(5)
Reaching Voters	212	(1)
Orchestrating the Campaign	213	(2)
Targeting Messages	215	(1)
Timing Appeals	216	(1)
Turning Out Voters	216	(1)
Summary	217	(2)
Where on the Web?	219	(1)
Exercises	220	(1)
Selected Reading	220	(1)
Notes	221	(4)
7 Media Politics	225	(44)
Introduction	225	(3)
Traditional Coverage: Hard News	228	(7)
The Bad News Syndrome	230	(2)
The Story Line	232	(2)
Impact of the News Media	234	(1)
Nontraditional Coverage: Soft News	235	(2)
Presidential Debates	237	(8)
Preparation	240	(1)
Strategy and Tactics	241	(1)
Evaluation and Impact	242	(3)
Campaign Advertising	245	(12)
Techniques and Timing	246	(3)
Targeting	249	(1)
Images and Messages	249	(4)
Box 7-1: The Air Wars of 2000: Advertising Strategies	253	(4)
The Cumulative Impact of the Media	257	(1)
Summary	257	(2)
Where on the Web?	259	(1)
Exercises	260	(1)
Selected Reading	260	(2)
Notes	262	(7)
PART IV THE ELECTION
8 Understanding Presidential Elections	269	(37)
Introduction	269	(1)
Predicting Presidential Elections	270	(8)
Formal Models	270	(2)
Public Opinion Polls	272	(4)
Television Forecasts	276	(2)
Interpreting the Election	278	(13)
Models of Voting Behavior	279	(1)
1952-1956: The Impact of Personality	280	(1)
1960-1972: The Increasing Importance of Issues	281	(1)
1976-1996: The Evaluation of Performance	282	(7)
2000: The Anticipation of Future Performance	289	(2)
Converting Electoral Choice into Public Policy	291	(7)
The President's Imprecise Mandate	291	(2)
Party Platforms, Campaign Pledges, and the New Agenda	293	(1)
Expectations and Performance	293	(1)
The Electoral Coalition and Governing	294	(1)
Personality Politics and Presidential Leadership	295	(3)
Summary	298	(2)
Where on the Web?	300	(1)
Exercises	300	(1)
Selected Reading	301	(1)
Notes	302	(4)
9 Reforming the Electoral System	306	(30)
Introduction	306	(1)
Modifying Recent Changes	307	(10)
Party Rules	307	(5)
Finance Laws	312	(3)
News Media Coverage	315	(2)
Enhancing Electoral Choice	317	(11)
Turnout	317	(3)
Electoral Reform	320	(1)
The Electoral College	321	(7)
Summary	328	(2)
Where on the Web?	330	(1)
Exercises	331	(1)
Selected Reading	331	(1)
Notes	332
PARTV APPENDIXES
Appendix A: Results of Presidential Elections, 1900-2000	336	(2)
Appendix B: 2000 Electoral and Popular Vote Summary	338	(2)
Appendix C: 2000 Electoral Vote Distribution	340	(1)
Appendix D: Tentative Democratic Caucus and Primary Schedule, January-March 2004	341	(1)
Appendix E: Republican and Democratic Party Conventions and Nominees, 1900-2004	342	(3)
Index	345