Presidential elections strategies and structures of American politics

Description

PART I: THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTChapter 1. VotersWhy People Don't VoteWhy People Do Vote: A Theory of Social ConnectednessParty Identification as Social IdentityParties as Aggregates of Loyal VotersIdeologies, Candidates, and Issues in the Minds of VotersChanges in Party Identification: Social Habit versusContemporary EvaluationA Central Strategic Problem: The Attentiveness of Voters2. GroupsThe Presidential Vote as an Aggregation of Interest GroupsVariations Among Interest Groups"Special" Interests, Campaign Spending, and Public Interest GroupsPolitical Parties as OrganizationsThird Parties3. Rules and ResourcesRules: The Electoral CollegeThinking About ResourcesResources: MoneyResources: Control Over InformationIncumbency as a Resource: The PresidencyIncumbency as a Liability: The Vice PresidencyThe Balance of ResourcesPART II: SEQUENCES4. The Nomination ProcessBefore the PrimariesIowa and New Hampshire: First in the NationWhat Do These Historical Vignettes Teach?State PrimariesState CaucusesSuperdelegatesThe National Party ConventionsParty Delegates at the ConventionsThe Convention as AdvertisingThe Vice-Presidential NomineeThe Future of National Conventions5.The CampaignThe Well-Traveled CandidatesPersuading VotersGetting Good PressCampaign ProfessionalsTelevised DebatesGetting Out the VoteCampaign BlundersForecasting the OutcomeCounting the VotePART III: ISSUES6. AppraisalsReform upon ReformThe Political Theory of Policy GovernmentReform by Means of Participatory DemocracySome Specific ReformsParty Platforms and Party Differences7. American Parties and DemocracyElections and Public PolicyParties of Advocacy versus Parties of IntermediationAppendixesA. Vote by Groups in Presidential Elections, 1976-2012B. Voter Turnout in Presidential Elections, by Population Characteristics, 1976-2012C. Selections from the Democratic and Republican Party Platforms, 2012