Description
Book SynopsisMillions of Americans--including many experienced politicians--viewed Barack Obama through a prism of high expectations, based on a belief in the power of presidential persuasion. Yet many who were inspired by candidate Obama were disappointed in what he was able to accomplish once in the White House. They could not understand why he often was unab
Trade Review"Edwards' central findings on the limits of presidential persuasion are in my view some of the most important in the literature of American politics. . . .
Predicting the Presidency should be widely read."
---Paul J. Quirk, Congress & the PresidencyTable of ContentsList of Figures ix List of Tables xi Preface xiii Chapter 1 Asking the Right Questions 1 PART I PREDICTING THE PRESIDENCY Chapter 2 Strategic Position with the Public 15 Chapter 3 Strategic Position with Congress 34 Chapter 4 Different Questions, Different Answers 53 PART II EXPLOITING OPPORTUNITIES Chapter 5 Reinforcing Opinion 77 Chapter 6 Exploiting Existing Opinion 107 Chapter 7 Cross-Pressuring Opinion 138 Chapter 8 Reaching the Base 160 Chapter 9 Exploiting Partisans in Congress 183 PART III CONCLUSION Chapter 10 Leadership, Opportunity, and Strategic Assessments 203 Notes 215 Index 255
