The Making of the Presidential Candidates 2020
Jonathan Bernstein editor Casey B K Dominguez editor
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published:15th Oct '19
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
A political junkie’s guide to the 2020 presidential race
Based on original analysis from leading experts on presidential elections, Making of the Presidential Candidates 2020 describes all of the systematic aspects of the nomination campaign today: party rules, fundraising, media attention, voter coalitions, prospects for female candidates, and more. The contributors carefully consider the nature of modern political parties and the ways that expanded parties affect the dynamics of the campaign. The analysis is current up to the 2016 election, including a thorough examination of the most fascinating candidate of recent times: Donald Trump. The only authoritative book on the all-important nominating process, Making of the Presidential Candidates 2020 will be valuable for college courses at all levels as well as practitioners and political junkies who want to understand the fundamental forces that shape nomination campaigns in the modern era.
Every four years the US ends up with two major candidates for president. This book explains the various hurdles that all candidates must jump in order to become one of the final two. First there is the coalition, and the need to draw on and preserve that coalition; party elites and activists try to secure a candidate who can win and who represents the principles of various factions. Female candidates have to respond to the masculine norms established by past presidents. Elaborate party rules about how delegate support is earned must be heeded. Likewise norms of media coverage: reporters are intrigued by the new but often tire of a candidate, and the degree of interest shapes the patterns of coverage. Straw polls are conducted, and these affect how possible candidates are seen. Money must be raised—an enormous task—because campaigns are expensive to maintain and candidates must continually demonstrate that they have sufficient donor support. Lastly, candidates must secure votes in party primaries and try to determine who their supporters are so they can shape their general election message accordingly. By way of illustration, the book analyzes the 2016 primaries, looking at how Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton won their party nominations. An excellent and accessible discussion.
Summing Up: Recommended. All readers.
ISBN: 9781538131084
Dimensions: 227mm x 154mm x 13mm
Weight: 336g
238 pages