Electoral Politics 2008: Candidates, Campaigns, and a Less Perfect Union

Instructor: Professor Shirley Anne Warshaw
                Department of Political Science

In the face of record levels of popular discontent, American voters will once again this autumn sort through the electoral process to select a President, Senators, and Representatives in search of the political Holy Grail. Although this Seminar will focus on contemporary campaign and election events, considerable attention will be devoted to American political party history and issues, candidate nomination procedures, party financing, electoral mechanics, campaign strategies, role of the media, and voting behavior. In short, while the glitter of the moment will not go unnoticed, we won't become captives of it. We will seek knowledge about electoral politics that will be useful not just in understanding current electoral politics, but that in the years past and ahead as well.