Conventional wisdom and American elections : exploding myths, exploring misconceptions

Author(s)

Bibliographic Information

Conventional wisdom and American elections : exploding myths, exploring misconceptions

Jody C. Baumgartner and Peter L. Francia

Rowman & Littlefield, c2016

3rd ed

  • : pbk

Available at  / 1 libraries

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Note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Many students develop misinformed opinions about the American electoral process. Conventional Wisdom and American Elections: Exploding Myths and Misconceptions debunks some of the more common misunderstandings that have arisen about the electoral process in the past few decades. This book engages students in elections and politics and teaches them to evaluate information like a political scientist. The third edition looks forward to the 2016 election with new, more contemporary myths addressed and a new chapter on voter fraud and identification.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations Introduction Part I: Voters 1. As Moderates Go, So Goes the Nation? The Reality about the Decisive "Independent" and "Swing Voter" 2. Data-Crunching Wizards: The New Masters of the Campaign Universe? What "Big" Data Can and Cannot Do for Campaigns 3. Democracy in Crisis? Myths and MIsunderstandings about Voter Turnout and Election Fraud Part II: Campaigns 4. End of the Two-Party System? The Myth of the Rise of Third Parties 5. Buying Elections? Misconceptions about Campaign Finance and the Citizens United Case 6. The Veepstakes: Balancing the Ticket and Other Myths about the Significance of Vice Presidential Selection 7. Myth or Reality? Presidential Campaigns Have Become Nastier 8. Ratings, Ratings, Ratings: Common Misconceptions about Media Bias 9. Game Changers? Misconceptions about the Significance of Presidential Debates 10. Science or Voodoo? Misconceptions about National Election Polls Part III: Elections Outcomes and Their Aftermath 11. May the Best Man Win? The Misconception of Competitive Congressional ELections 12. "The American People Have Spoken"... Or Have They? The Myth of the Presidential Mandate Index About the Authors

by "Nielsen BookData"

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