Abstract
The 2008 election represented a rare opportunity to examine contested primaries within both parties. The Democratic Party network, with Obama at its core, proved more cohesive than its Republican counterpart. Not only was the Republican core a weaker cluster of three coequal candidates but a second group of lesser candidates, including populists and libertarians, failed to merge with the first group. The willingness of donors to support their party’s nominee in the general election reflected these differences in party network coherence. While Obama was able to garner high levels of backing, McCain received lukewarm support at best from his party. This weakness proved to be indicative of a increasingly fractured party, which we demonstrate in the next chapter.
The willingness of donors to support their party’s nominee in the general election reflected these differences in party network coherence. While Obama was able to garner high levels of backing, McCain received lukewarm support at best from his party. This weakness proved to be indicative of a increasingly fractured party, which we demonstrate in the next chapter.
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Notes
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© 2013 Andrew Dowdle, Scott Limbocker, Song Yang, Karen Sebold, and Patrick A. Stewart
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Dowdle, A., Limbocker, S., Yang, S., Sebold, K., Stewart, P.A. (2013). A Tale of Two Networks: The 2008 Nomination Process. In: The Invisible Hands of Political Parties in Presidential Elections: Party Activists and Political Aggregation from 2004 to 2012. Palgrave Pivot, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137318602_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137318602_5
Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, New York
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