Campaigns and Elections American Style

Candice J. Nelson is Professor of Government, and Academic Director of the Campaign Management Institute at American University.James A. Thurber is Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Government, and Founder and former Director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University.David A. Dulio is Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Oakland University.

Praise for Campaigns and Elections American StyleBy combining insights from academic research on campaigns with first-hand experiences of campaign practitioners, Campaigns and Elections American Style provides a comprehensive and enlightening account of contemporary political campaigns at every level.Rachel Bitecofer, Christopher Newport UniversityNelson and Thurber have assembled an excellent team of authors to help us understand prior elections and also train our sights on future elections. A distinct element of the book is the cutting-edge, insightful chapters by those actually doing the work of running campaigns, while being grounded in expert academic work. Together, they provide strong coverage of phenomena old and new to place campaigns in the broader context of American government: the use of big data, social media, and substantial unpaid-for traditional media; campaign finance, major donors, Super PACs, and 501(c) organizations; and polling, campaign management, the ground game, parties, and redistricting.David Magleby, Brigham Young UniversityThurber and Nelson’s text is an important resource that brings together perspectives of both academics and experienced campaign professionals to make the case "that campaigns matter." While these insights consider the influence of recent changes in digital technology, data, and social media in an increasingly polarized society, they also connect their analysis of key variables – the political context, voters, messaging, and money -- to the fundamentals of successful political campaigns.Amy E. Jasperson, Rhodes College

• An Introduction to Campaigns and Elections, American StyleDavid A. Dulio, Candice J. Nelson and James A. ThurberPART I Campaign Rules and Actors1 US Democracy Survives a ChallengeChris Sautter2 Redistricting and Reapportionment in U.S. ElectionsStephen K. Medvic3 Outside Money and Inside Policy: Campaign Finance in Federal ElectionR. Sam Garrett4 The Role of Political PartiesDavid A. Dulio and John S. KlemanskiPART II Campaign Context5 Campaign Management: The Key Elements of a CampaignAnne Caprara6 The Uses and Challenges of Survey Research in Election CampaignsGlen Bolger7 Primaries: The Key to Understanding Party Factions in American PoliticsElaine C. KamarckPART III The Dynamics of the Campaign8 Microtargeting and Big DataTom Bonier9 Paid MediaTerrance Green10 How Digital Changed the Political LandscapeScott Goodstein11 The Changing Dynamics of Campaign Media: Earned and OwnedRon Elving12 Field Organizing in Political CampaignsAlicia Kolar PrevostConclusionCandice J. Nelson, James A. Thurber and David A. Dulio