In Pursuit of the White House: How We Choose Our Presidential Nominees by William G. Mayer (Editor)

From the Publisher

A readable informative guide to the strategic prenomination environment that structures our choices on election day. Beginning with the invisible primary period of early political maneuvering, this volume brings together timely insights by distinguished political observes who analyze significant aspects of the nomination process from the internal struggles of party activists to possibilities for broad systemic reform.

Library Journal

This collection of nine scholarly essays updates the 1996 election edition (LJ 9/1/95) and offers a detailed appraisal of selected aspects of the presidential nominating process. Michael Hagen and William Mayer discuss the implications of frontloading primaries, with several states moving to hold their primaries on the heels of the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. According to the essay by Andrew Busch, frontloading "deprives voters of meaningful participation" because candidates lack the time to reveal their platforms fully. Other essays investigate the gender gap in the nominating process, the New Hampshire primary as the forefront for personal and media-driven campaigns, and the improved caliber of vice presidents. This compilation by and for specialists is appropriate for academic collections. For a more accessible overview of election mechanics, see Jules Witcover's No Way To Pick a President (LJ 10/1/99).--Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

During the past 20 years, political scientists have focused increasingly on the presidential nomination process. This book is a collection of ten papers by 11 scholars who survey this electoral specialty. Utilizing many tables, the collection is especially useful for evaluating what scholars know about the six to 24 months before the formal primaries and caucuses known as the "invisible primary." It also examines the role of the media, social movements, money, party activists, and Super Tuesday. Though the findings are conventional, the text is aimed at an academic audience and should prove useful in college and university courses. Political buffs will be up to date if they rely on it for the 1996 election.William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport

Booknews

Mayer (political science, Northeastern U.) is joined by a number of other political scientists in discussing the presidential nominating process. Topics covered include the new features of the 2000 nominating process, how televised debates have affected presidential nominations, the role of the New Hampshire primary, gender differences in the nomination process, and vice-presidential selection. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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Table of Contents