Conventional Wisdom and American Elections

Exploding Myths, Exploring Misconceptions

Jody C Baumgartner, Peter L. Francia

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9781538129173
• Edition: 4
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Political Campaigns & Elections
• Index: Politics & International Relations

During every election cycle, political observers generate a seemingly limitless supply of theories, opinions, and predictions. Unfortunately, many of these assertions oversimplify complex subjects or overhype the latest political fads. Inevitably, some misinformation becomes part of the conventional wisdom about American elections. The objective of Conventional Wisdom and American Elections: Exploding Myths, Exploring Misconceptions is to bring clarity to several of these subjects.

For example, it is now commonplace for commentators to emphasize the negative tactics and practices of the campaigns of presidential candidates. In 2016, some commentators suggested that the presidential campaign was the "nastiest" ever, with the campaigns of President Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and their supporters, going to "new extremes" of negativity. However, these claims are not new. Dating as far back as the presidential election of 1800, critics of Thomas Jefferson stated that his potential victory would bring about legal prostitution and the burning of the Bible. In 1824, opponents of Andrew Jackson charged that he was a murderer and that his wife was a bigamist. Perhaps most scurrilous of all, Jackson's opponents even accused his dead mother of being a prostitute.

In total, Conventional Wisdom and American Elections identifies eleven widely held myths and misconceptions about elections in the United States. The conclusions drawn throughout the book are based on the most current political science research. In some instances, the literature is clear in debunking popular myths about American elections. On other issues, research findings are more mixed. In either case, Conventional Wisdom and American Elections clarifies the issues so that readers can discern between those in which scholars have largely resolved and those in which honest debate remains.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Brief Contents
• Contents
• List of Illustrations
• About the Authors
• Preface
• 1 The “Independent” and “Swing” Voter Myth versus the Reality of Mobilizing the Base
• 2 To Vote or Not to Vote: Three Myths about Voter Turnout
• 3 End of the Two-PartySystem? The Myth of the Rise of Third Parties
• 4 Buying Elections? Campaign Finance Law and Money’s Influence in Elections and Politics
• 5 The Veepstakes: Balancing the Ticket and Other Myths about Vice Presidential Selection
• 6 Mudslinging 101: Have Presidential Campaigns Really Become Nastier?
• 7 Where Have You Gone, Walter Cronkite? The “News” Just Ain’t What It Used to Be
• 8 Game Changer? Misconceptions about the Significance of Presidential Debates
• 9 Science or Voodoo? Misconceptions about National Election Polls
• 10 May the Best Person Win? The Illusion of Competitive Congressional Elections
• 11 The American People Have Spoken . . . or Have They? The Myth of the Presidential Mandate
• Notes
• Index