Campaigns and Elections American Style: The Changing Landscape of Political Campaigns

Following one of the most contentious and surprising elections in US history, the new edition of this classic text demonstrates unequivocally: Campaigns matter. With new and revised chapters throughout, Campaigns and Elections American Style provides a real education in contemporary campaign politics. In the fifth edition, academics and campaign professionals explain how Trump won the presidency, comparing his sometimes novel tactics with tried and true strategies including how campaign themes and strategies are developed and communicated, the changes in campaign tactics as a result of changing technology, new techniques to target and mobilize voters, the evolving landscape of campaign finance and election laws, and the increasing diversity of the role of media in elections. Offering a unique and careful mix of Democrat and Republican, academic and practitioner, and male and female campaign perspectives, this volume scrutinizes national and local-level campaigns with a special focus on the 2016 presidential and congressional elections and what those elections might tell us about 2018 and 2020. Students, citizens, candidates, and campaign managers will learn not only how to win elections but also why it is imperative to do so in an ethical way. Perfect for a variety of courses in American government, this book is essential reading for political junkies of any stripe and serious students of campaigns and elections.

Highlights of the Fifth Edition

• Covers the 2016 elections with an eye to 2018 and 2020.
• Explains how Trump won the presidency, the changes in campaign tactics as a result of changing technology, new techniques to target and mobilize voters, the evolving landscape of campaign finance and election laws, and the increasing diversity of the role of media.
• Includes a new part structure and the addition of part introductions to help students contextualize the major issues and trends in campaigns and elections.

Candice J. Nelson is Professor of Government, and Academic Director of the Campaign Management Institute, at American University. She is the author of Grant Park: The Democratization of Presidential Elections: 1968-2008; co-author of The Myth of the Independent Voter, Vital Signs: Perspective on the Health of American Campaigning and The Money Chase: Congressional Campaign Finance Reform; and co-editor of Campaign Warriors: Political Consultants in Elections; Crowded Airways: Campaign Advertising in Elections; and Shades of Gray: Perspectives on Campaign Ethics.

James A. Thurber is Distinguished University Professor of Government, and Founder and former Director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, at American University. Dr. Thurber is the author, co-author, or editor of Obama In Office, Rivals for Power: Presidential-Congressional Relations; Campaign Warriors: Political Consultants in Elections; Crowded Airways: Campaign Advertising in Elections; The Battle for Congress: Consultants, Candidates; Voters, Congress and the Internet; and American Gridlock: The Sources, Character and Impact of Political Polarization.