Campaign Mode: Strategic Vision in Congressional Elections(Campaigning American Style)

The pressures of contemporary electioneering force political professionals into campaign mode - a state of mind that merges a visceral drive to win elections with a deep-seated habit of strategic thinking. Wise political professionals know the basic rules of electoral strategy and how to read the political terrain. Campaign Mode examines the strategic histories of five successful congressional candidates - Ohio's Ted Strickland, Georgia's Bob Barr, California's Loretta Sanchez, Tennessee's Harold Ford, Jr., and Pennsylvania's Rick Santorum. The authors - both of whom have advised major political figures - combine original interviews, survey data, historical investigation, and first-hand observation of the candidates to reveal the inner workings of electoral politics. They demonstrate that campaigns do matter and show readers how to think like political professionals. Visit our website for sample chapters!

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 Campaign Mode and Professional Understanding Chapter 2 Strategic Effects Chapter 3 Build Strong Connections with the Electorate: Ted Strickland, Sixth District of Ohio Chapter 4 Hammer at the Opponent's Weak Point: Bob Barr, Seventh District of Georgia Chapter 5 Defy Conventional Wisdom: Loretta Sanchez, Forty-Sixth District of California Chapter 6 Gain the Center without Losing the Base: Harold Ford Jr., Ninth District of Tennessee Chapter 7 Preempt the Challenge: Rick Santorum, Pennsylvania Chapter 8 Conclusion: Campaign Mode Revisited

About the Author :
Michael John Burton is assistant professor of political science at Ohio University. Daniel M. Shea is associate professor of political science at Allegheny College.

Review :
Burton and Shea have written a unique book that explains how campaigns operate. By focusing attention on campaign strategy in particular, they help shed light on what, for most Americans, is a complex and mysterious process. Campaign Mode does an outstanding job of opening up the world of electoral politics. This thoughtful book systematically analyzes campaign strategy in congressional elections and provides real world examples to illustrate how these strategies develop. It bridges the gap between what political scientists think they know about campaigns and how these campaigns actually unfold. Burton and Shea get it right. They identify the conceptual rules that typically dictate campaign strategy, note the exceptions and illustrate it all with well-chosen case studies and analysis. This book is an enjoyable must-read by two writers who blendtheir political and academic expertise to perfection.... An interesting book for the political practitioner wanting general insights into strategic thinking in political campaign management. Campaign Mode is a pleasure to read and has something for everyone—academics, practitioners, and political junkies. Burton and Shea use a nice blend of scholarly literature and stories from the field to produce their 'rules of engagement'—rules that ring true and that candidates can ignore only at great peril. An ideal book for the classroom or just for a good read. Burton and Shea get it right. They identify the conceptual rules that typically dictate campaign strategy, note the exceptions and illustrate it all with well-chosen case studies and analysis. This book is an enjoyable must-read by two writers who blend their political and academic expertise to perfection.