Change and Continuity in the 1996 Elections (Paperback)

Change and Continuity in the 1996 Elections provides the first comprehensive data analysis of the 1996 presidential and congressional elections. It describes the nominations and expands now Clinton, who was perceived as politically bankrupt after the 1994 midterm elections, was able to win easily without a primary challenge, and how Dole was able to capture the GOP bid after two earlier, unsuccessful tries. The skillful campaign waged by the Clinton organization is compared with the efforts of the Dole camp.

The 1996 elections are set in a broad historical context. Voter turnout in 1996, the lowest in a presidential election since 1924, is analyzed employing the National Election Studies survey from the University of Michigan and other reputable polls. The authors analyze why voters chose to return Clinton to the White House and Republican majorities to Capitol Hill, why Perot was less successful in his second race, and what the implications are for the future of American party politics.