viii Contents
Major-Party Developments: Th e Republicans , 28
Major-Party Developments: Th e Democrats , 29
Th e Transformative Election of FDR, 1932–1980 , 31
FDR and the New Deal Democrats , 31
Democratic Party Developments
Post–World War II , 34
Conservatives Ascendant , 38
Parity and Polarization , 42
Conclusion , 46
References , 47
2 PROBLEMS, CONTROVERSIES,
AND
SOLUTIONS, 59
Introduction , 59
Th e Voters , 60
Who Should Be Allowed to Vote? , 60
Th e Declining Importance of Party
Identifi cation , 62
Coalitions of Voting Blocs and Shifts
in Voter Allegiance , 64
Ideological Purity of the Two Major
Parties—Th e Dichotomy of Conservative
Republicans versus Liberal Democrats , 67
Ideology versus Pragmatism in Primary and
General Elections , 68
Th e Need to Play to a Party’s Base versus
Outreach and Diversity of Coalitions , 70
Th e Candidates , 71
Th e Candidate Selection Process , 71
Th e Establishment versus Outsider Candidates , 73
Major-Party Developments: Th e Republicans , 28
Major-Party Developments: Th e Democrats , 29
Th e Transformative Election of FDR, 1932–1980 , 31
FDR and the New Deal Democrats , 31
Democratic Party Developments
Post–World War II , 34
Conservatives Ascendant , 38
Parity and Polarization , 42
Conclusion , 46
References , 47
2 PROBLEMS, CONTROVERSIES,
AND
SOLUTIONS, 59
Introduction , 59
Th e Voters , 60
Who Should Be Allowed to Vote? , 60
Th e Declining Importance of Party
Identifi cation , 62
Coalitions of Voting Blocs and Shifts
in Voter Allegiance , 64
Ideological Purity of the Two Major
Parties—Th e Dichotomy of Conservative
Republicans versus Liberal Democrats , 67
Ideology versus Pragmatism in Primary and
General Elections , 68
Th e Need to Play to a Party’s Base versus
Outreach and Diversity of Coalitions , 70
Th e Candidates , 71
Th e Candidate Selection Process , 71
Th e Establishment versus Outsider Candidates , 73
