| Description |
xii, 178 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references, videography (pages 168-169) and index. |
| Contents |
pt. I. The players -- 1. We the people -- It's been a Long road : voting in the nation's early Years -- Opening democracy's door : expanding the franchise -- Unfinished business : lowering the barriers to voting -- Voter turnout : turn-offs and turn-ons -- Turnout rises in 2004 -- Turning thing around : how to increase voter turnout -- The debate over voter ID -- 2. The candidates -- Are they crazy? : what it takes to run for president -- Where do they come from? : the candidates' varied backgrounds -- Running for the boss's job : when the vice president steps up -- Political newcomers : nonpoliticians in the running -- Campaign strategy, part I : the candidates and the issues -- Campaign strategy, part II : dividing the electorate -- 3. The parties and other behind-the-scenes powers -- Early history : how the political parties came to be -- The life of the parties : the Democrats and Republicans take center stage -- Party mechanics : how the parties work -- Independents' day : beyond the parties -- Enter the special interests : independent groups step up their campaign activity -- 4. The media -- Running for coverage : the candidates and the media -- The media under fire : what's wrong with today's election coverage? -- The media respond : is political coverage getting better? -- The new media : expanding election coverage -- New media = more choices for voters -- Too much of a good thing? : critiquing the new media -- How to find the best election coverage -- Elections go online -- 5. Money : who gives it, who gets it -- Why they donate : the quest for influence -- Public funding of presidential elections : how it works -- Getting around the rules : hard and soft money -- Evading the soft-money ban -- Independent advocacy : really independent? -- Funding presidential campaigns : a system in trouble -- Serious problems, possible solutions -- |
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pt. II. The process -- 6. Early action -- Laying the groundwork : campaigning unannounced -- The money chase, part I : PAC it up -- The money chase, part II : the exploratory committee -- Competing for talent : lining up key advisers and staff -- Who's who : the campaign team -- Making it official : the announcement -- After the early going : a winnowing of the field -- 7. The primaries and caucuses -- How it works : choosing the delegates -- Primary education : what is a primary? -- A primary alternative : what's a caucus? -- The early states : Iowa and New Hampshire -- A mega-primary for 2008 -- Primary participation : who votes in the primaries? -- 8. The conventions -- What's it all about? : the function of the national conventions -- The delegates : who are all these people? -- Conventional wisdom : "my kind of town" -- The scripted convention : "boring is good" -- The role of the media : the conventions as news events -- Convention highlights : a viewer's guide -- 9. The general election campaign -- Campaign strategy, part I : a shift to the center -- Campaign strategy, part II : targeting a candidate's appeal -- Campaign tactics, part I : the candidates in control -- Campaign tactics, part II : a little help from my friends -- Campaign tactics, part III : four campaigns at once -- The candidates face off : the presidential debates -- What about the issues? -- It's your choice -- 10. Election day -- A work in progress -- The Help America Vote Act -- A college education : how does the electoral college work? -- Do we really need the Electoral College? : proposals for change -- Tabulating the outcome : the results are in! -- Early projections : jumping the gun -- Making it official. |
| Subject |
Presidents -- United States -- Election.
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Voting -- United States.
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Political campaigns -- United States.
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Presidential candidates -- United States.
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Elections -- United States.
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| Added Author |
Guldin, Bob.
|
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League of Women Voters (U.S.)
|
| ISBN |
9781599212142 |
|
1599212145 |
|
