Book Review: Expressive Politics

While waiting for campaigns and the weather to heat up, I've been catching up on my reading. Today's choice is Expressive Politics: Issue Strategies of Congressional Challengers, by Robert G. Boatright (Ohio State University Press, 2004). I will confess up front that I skimmed this one. The parts I did read were interesting -- reviewing the campaigns and strategies of those who help the country exercise its democratic beliefs by challenging incumbent Congressional representatives, often when there is little chance of winning. Boatright looks at campaign and candidate strategies, the role of state and local parties, polling and ideology.

Pennsylvanians may be intrigued to hear that among those interviewed were candidates and campaign managers in the 2000 Congressional races. The PA races include those for PA-4, PA-6, PA8, PA-11, PA-15, PA-16, PA-17. Keep in mind that those interviewed were the challengers or their managers. The interviewers were done in early 2001. The Pennsylvania-specific information and quotes is primarily located in chapter 7 of Boatright's book. The quotes are identified by state but not by race, although those in the know (which would not include me) can probably tell who is speaking.