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.

Choice Reviews