Synopses & Reviews
In the past several decades, the country has seen some incumbent presidents win second terms by margins previously believed to be unattainable, yet has witnessed defeats of more incumbents than at any time in our national history. These outcomes are directly related to the presence of television and to the changing nature of incumbency. The relationship between incumbency and television news reporting has replaced partisanship as the leading determinant of voter choice in presidential elections since 1960. By showing how various recurring patterns in televised news reporting of presidential elections and of the presidency itself have actually enhanced the reelection prospects of some incumbents while undermining others, and how these patterns have influenced the campaigns of other leading political figures, the author provides us with a new means of understanding elections to come.
Review
Dover provides a clear analysis and summary of the way television has influenced presidential elections. Clearly written and well organized. Upper-division undergraduate through faculty.Choice
Review
...be useful in a political science course...[Dover] provides a reasonably good historical look at recent presidential elections....The book is organized in a reasonable, easy-to-follow fashionJournalism &Mass Communication Quarterly
Synopsis
This insightful analysis of the relationship between incumbency and television news reveals a new pattern of outcomes in presidential elections.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [175]-181) and index.
About the Author
E. D. DOVER is Associate Professor of Political Science, Public Policy, and Administration at Western Oregon State College.
Table of Contents
Presidential Elections in the Television Age
Elections with Strong Incumbents
Elections with Surrogate Incumbents
Elections with Weak Incumbents
Conclusions and Epilogue
Selected Bibliography
Index