A citizen's guide to presidential nominations : the competition for leadership / Wayne P. Steger.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Steger, Wayne P., author.

Series:

Citizen guides to politics and public affairs

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Presidents--United States--Nomination.

Presidents.

Primaries.

United States.

Primaries--United States.

Presidents--Nomination.

Physical Description:

xvii, 156 pages ; 22 cm.

Other Title:

Guide to presidential nominations

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Routledge, 2015.

Summary:

Presidential nominations in the United States can sometimes seem like a media circus, over-hyped and overly speculative. Even informed citizens might be tempted to tune them out. Yet understanding the process, one distinct to American politics, is crucial for civic participation. If presidential elections are about who will lead the nation, presidential nominations are about who appears on the ballot. This concise and coherent Citizen's Guide examines who has power in presidential nominations and how this affects who we as citizens choose to nominate, and ultimately to sit in the Oval Office. Political scientist Wayne Steger defines the nominating system as a tension between an "insider game" and an "outsider game." He explains how candidates must appeal to a broad spectrum of elected and party officials, political activists, and aligned groups in order to form a winning coalition within their party, which changes over time. Either these party insiders unify early behind a candidate, effectively deciding the nominee before anyone casts a vote, or they are divided and the nomination is determined by citizens voting in the caucuses and primaries. Steger portrays how shifts in party unity and the participation of core party constituencies affect the options presented to voters. Amidst all this, the candidate still matters. Primaries with one strong candidate look much different than those with a field of weaker ones. By clearly addressing the key issues, past and present, of presidential nominations, Steger's guide will be informative, relevant, and accessible for students and general readers alike. Book jacket.

Contents:

Introduction and rules of the game

An introduction to presidential nominations

An evolving nomination process

Mechanics of the game

Party stakeholders : the insider game

The changing money game

Mass- and micro- media campaigns

Competition in post-reform presidential nominations

Collusion or competition during the invisible primary

Why some nominations are decided before and some during the primaries

Political party unity : long- and short-term variations

Candidates : opportunism, competition, and change

Before, during, and after the primaries.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780415827584

0415827582

9780415827591

0415827590

OCLC:

892794707