Dulio and Nelson analyze the Bush and Kerry campaigns and use them as the springboard for a broader exploration of the current U.S. campaign system and its strengths and weaknesses. The book addresses four key issues: Whos in charge of modern campaigns? How effective are the key players? What role does money play? And are campaigns being conducted in an ethical manner?

Based upon the long-term study "Improving Campaign Conduct" at American U., Dulio (political science, Oakland U.) and Nelson (government, American U.) analyze the current US campaign system and the 2004 presidential race in particular, examining who is in charge, the effectiveness of the key players, the role of money and whether campaigns are being run ethically. Although they hold out hope on a case by case basis, they also show that the 2004 campaign was the most expensive and one of the most vociferous in history, and if it did nothing else it raised a host of questions, including where America draws the ethical line in campaigning. It appears that two-thirds of the general public believed ethical violations occur in campaigns in the late 1990s, and that the 2004 elections did not assure them they did not, but it also appears that despite the questions the campaigns will continue and the system will survive. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

It was the best of elections; it was the worst of elections. The 2004 presidential contest mobilized a record number of voters, with 121 million Americans showing up at the polls. But in many eyes, the 2004 race also plumbed new depths. It was the most expensive presidential election in history, with a price tag of $2.2 billion. It was also marked by unprecedented negativityfor example, both George W. Bush and John Kerry came under fire for their activities during the Vietnam War, which ended three decades ago. In Vital Signs, David Dulio and Candice Nelson analyze the Bush and Kerry campaigns and use them as the springboard for a broader exploration of the current U.S. campaign system and its strengths and weaknesses. The book addresses four key issues: Whos in charge of modern campaigns? How effective are the key players? What role does money play? And are campaigns being conducted in an ethical manner? In answering these questions, Dulio and Nelson draw on a wide range of sources, including focus groups, interviews with campaign professionals, and a unique dataset based on multiple surveys of political consultants, party operatives, and the public. The culmination of the seven-year Improving Campaign Conduct project, Vital Signs should become an integral part of the debate about American campaigns and elections.