Description
Combining top-notch research with real-world politics, this sixth edition provides a thorough and evenhanded assessment of congressional campaigns and elections. Herrnson's popular book argues that successful candidates run two campaigns: one for votes, the other for resources. Using campaign finance data, original survey research, and hundreds of interviews with candidates and political insiders, Herrnson looks at how this dual strategy affects who wins and ultimately the entire electoral system.
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For students of politics, Herrnson (government and politics, U. of Maryland) examines congressional elections and their implications for Congress and American government. He considers the influence of voters, candidates, party committees, and interest groups on outcomes, and how the norms and expectations associated with campaigns affect who runs, the kinds of organizations they assemble, how much money they raise, the types of party and interest group support they attract, their strategies and communication techniques, and whether they win or lose. He also discusses the institutions, laws, party rules, and customs for elections; candidates and nominations, including the influence of incumbency; fundraising; campaign communications; the effects of elections on the activities of legislators and Congress; and campaign reform. He draws from interviews, questionnaires, campaign finance data, and other evidence collected from candidates, consultants, parties, and interest groups that have participated in elections since 1992, with background information on those since 1978 and case studies of the 2010 elections. This edition addresses the growth of outside campaigns sponsored by parties and interest groups, Internet campaigning, and the overturning of parts of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. CQ Press is an imprint of SAGE Publications. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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