Vital Signs: Perspectives on the Health of American Campaigning / Edition 1

by David A. Dulio, Candice J. Nelson, James A. Thurber Distinguished Professor, American University

Overview

"It was the best of elections; it was the worst of elections. The 2004 presidential contest mobilized a record number of voters, with 121 million Americans showing up at the polls. But in many eyes, the 2004 race also plumbed new depths. It was the most expensive presidential election in history, with a price tag of $2.2 billion. It was also marked by unprecedented negativity—for example, both George W. Bush and John Kerry came under fire for their activities during the Vietnam War, which ended three decades ago. In V ital Signs, David Dulio and Candice Nelson analyze the Bush and Kerry campaigns and use them as the springboard for a broader exploration of the current U.S. campaign system and its strengths and weaknesses. The book addresses four key issues: Who's in charge of modern campaigns? How effective are the key players? What role does money play? And are campaigns being conducted in an ethical manner? In answering these questions, Dulio and Nelson draw on a wide range of sources, including focus groups, interviews with campaign professionals, and a unique dataset based on multiple surveys of political consultants, party operatives, and the public. The culmination of the seven-year "Improving Campaign Conduct" project, Vital Signs should become an integral part of the debate about American campaigns and elections.

"

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780815719519
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/30/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.05(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

"David A. Dulio is assistant professor of political science at Oakland University. He is the author of For Better or Worse: How Political Consultants Are Changing Elections in the United States (Suny Press, 2004). Candice J. Nelson is academic director of the Campaign Management Institute and associate professor of government at American University. James A. Thurber is director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies and professor of government at American University."

Table of Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments 1. A Talke of Two Campaigns?

2. Who's in Charge? Candidates, Consultants, and Political Parties

3. Where Do We Stand? A Comparative View among the Actors

4. Money, Elections, and the Impact of Reform

5. Ethics and the Health of American Campaigning

6. The Health of U.S. Campaigning after the 2004 Election

Appendix: Details of Survey Sample Selection and Administration

Notes

Index

Editorial Reviews

"By carefully presenting survey results, they cut through some of the anecodotal clutter about political campaigns. Recommended." --R. M. Flanagan, CUNY College of Staten Island, "CHOICE"

From the Publisher