Courage, commitment, determination, and ego make first-time candidates run But what does it take to make them win?Edward Sidlows new case study, Challenging the Incumbent: An Underdogs Undertaking, animates the scholarship on congressional elections as it tells an intimate, behind-the-scenes story of the 2000 congressional race in Illinois 8th district. Lance Pressl, a 42-year-old challenger takes on long-time incumbent Phil Crane in a political contest that epitomizes the trials and tribulations confronting those who dare to run against incumbents. Combining the most recent scholarship on campaigns and elections with an eye-witness account of the day-to-day dynamics of a race, Sidlow documents Pressls efforts as he tries to win the support and commitment of his core constituents and powerful political allies. The challenges he faces are legion: Will major demographic changes in the district bode well for Pressl, a moderate Democrat running in a well-established Republican stronghold? Will Pressls well-connected personal contacts bring the dollars so critical to his campaign? Will they attract enough media attention? To whom can he turn for sound strategic advice and support? Balancing key issues in electoral politics with a fascinating David-and-Goliath storyline, Sidlows study will give students context in which to understand the dynamicsand the vagariesof House elections.

 

 

There are 148 pages in this book. This book was published in 2003 by SAGE Publications Inc .