The road to the White House 2024 : the politics of presidential elections

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The road to the White House 2024 : the politics of presidential elections

Stephen J. Wayne

Rowman & Littlefield, c2024

12th ed

  • : pbk

Available at  / 2 libraries

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Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Voters need information about the qualities of candidates, the policies they propose and the partisan labels they wear. Does our Electoral College encourage the most qualified candidates to run? Does it force them to talk candidly with the American people? Will election results accurately reflect the needs of the population as a whole? Wayne's The Road to the White House 2024 answers these questions in a straightforward, jargon-free manner. Equipping you with a background on presidential elections and a guide to the 2024 election, it illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of our electoral democracy. It also offers insights on changes that have revolutionized contemporary electoral politics: the flood of money, the ideological polarization of American parties, the digital revolution, foreign interference, voter eligibility, the integrity of the voting process itself and much more.

Table of Contents

Part One. The Electoral Arena Chapter 1. Presidential Selection: A Historical Overview The Creation of the Electoral College The Development of Nominating Systems Congressional Caucuses National Nominating Conventions Popular Primaries and Caucuses The Evolution of the General Election Partisan Electors Congressional Decisions Judicial Determination Other Close Elections The Politics of Electoral College Voting Summary Where on the Web? Exercises Selected Readings Chapter 2. Campaign Finance The Rising Costs of Running for President The Regulation of Campaign Finance The Federal Election Campaign Act The Buckley v. Valeo Decision The Soft Money Loophole and Other Amendments The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act The Court's Citizens United Decision The Money Explosion Candidate Revenues Federal Funds Campaign Expenditures Money and Electoral Success Summary Where on the Web? Exercises Selected Readings Chapter 3. The Political Environment Turnout The Evolution of Voting in American Elections Comparative Turnout in Other Countries Influences on Turnout Turnout and Democracy Turnout and Partisanship The Partisan Basis of Politics Voting Behavior Shifts in Partisanship The Social Basis of Politics The New Deal Realignment Evolving Political Coalitions: 1950-70 Electoral Coalitions: The Last Forty Years Summary Where on the Web? Exercises Selected Readings Part Two. The Nomination Chapter 4. Party Rules and Their Impact Reforming the Nomination Process: Democrats Take the Initiative Fixing the Calendar Improving Representation Empowering the Leadership Republican Reforms Legality of Party Rules The Impact of the Rule Changes Turnout Representation Party Organization and Leadership Winners and Losers Summary Where on the Web? Exercises Selected Readings Chapter 5. Campaigning for the Nomination Basic Strategic Guidelines Plan Far Ahead Concentrate Efforts in the Early Contests Raise and Spend Big Bucks Gain Media Attention Develop an Organization Monitor Public Opinion Design and Target a Distinctive Image and Message Make Effective Use of Communication Technologies Coordinating Strategy with Candidacy Status Campaigning as Front-Runner Campaigning as a Non-Front-Runner Campaigning as a Pulpit Candidate Summary Where on the Web? Exercises Selected Readings Chapter 6. The Post-Primary Campaign The Noncompetitive Preconvention Phase Healing Partisan Discord Repositioning and Reprioritizing the Issues Repairing Leadership Images Gaining the Stature of an Incumbent Picking the Vice Presidential Nominee Planning for the Convention Convention Controversies in Historical Perspective Contemporary Conventions: Composition, Content, Communications, and Impact Oratory Themes Platform News Media Coverage Assessing the Conventions' Impact on the Electorate Characteristics of the Nominees Summary Where on the Web? Exercises Selected Readings Part Three. The General Election Campaign Chapter 7. Strategy, Tactics, and Operations The Evolution of Presidential Campaigns From Porch to Train From Rally to Radio and Television From Art to Science: The Digital Revolution Strategic Planning Partisanship Salient Issues Leadership Imagery Dealing with Incumbency Building a Winning Electoral College Coalition Strategic Execution Organization The Public Dimension Field Offices Data Analysis Summary Where on the Web? Exercises Selected Readings Chapter 8. Media Politics The Mass Media and Electoral Politics: An Overview Print Media Television The Internet Traditional News Coverage Horse Race Journalism Newsworthiness: Bad News Is "Good" News Story Lines Impact Presidential Debates History Preparation Impact Campaign Advertising Format and Tone Emotive Content Accuracy and Truthfulness Digital Communication Controversies Foreign Interference Use and Abuse of Personal Data Summary Where on the Web? Exercises Selected Readings Part Four. The Election: Its Meaning and Consequences Chapter 9. Understanding Presidential Elections Predicting Presidential Elections Forecasting Models Pre-election Polling Election-Night Reporting and Analyses of Exit Polls Interpreting the Election Results Models of Voting Behavior Explaining Presidential Election Results: 1952-2016 Converting Electoral Choice into Public Policy The President's Imprecise Mandate Campaign Expectations and Presidential Performance Transitioning into Office Summary Where on the Web? Exercises Selected Readings Chapter 10. Reforming the Electoral System Improving the Selection Process Party Rules Campaign Finance Informing the Electorate Traditional News Coverage Digital Communications Democratizing the Road to the White House Closing the Participation Divide Changing the Way Presidents Are Elected Increasing Competitiveness for Congressional Elections Summary Where on the Web? Exercises Selected Readings Appendix. The 2019-2020 Presidential Election Campaign

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