February 1, 2000
Contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens, (615) 322-NEWS
[email protected]
Vanderbilt political experts analyze the presidential primaries
Renewed emphasis on character in 2000 presidential primaries
The winners of the 2000 presidential primaries may be those who are best at using character as a political resource, according to Vanderbilt University political scientist Erwin Hargrove, who has written a book on presidential leadership. Hargrove says the candidates' recent focus on character is a clear effort to distinguish them from Bill Clinton, while showing they are authentic, worthy leaders. Hargrove defines character as a skill in the sense that it has the capacity to inspire others. He also believes that if a politician has fundamental character flaws, they will become apparent soon enough in public life. So it is not necessary to put candidates' personal lives under a microscope.
Hargrove, author of "The President as Leader: Appealing to the Better Angels of Our Nature," can be reached at (615) 322-6227 (work) or (615) 383-8015.
If the system's not broke, don't fix it
Many political observers are complaining that the nominating process needs revamping because of the disproportionate influence of Iowa and New Hampshire on the race. Also, the battle for the party nominations may force candidates to adopt more extremist positions. Vanderbilt Professor of Political Science John Geer decided to measure the validity of those criticisms by doing a detailed content analysis of 756 political ads aired during the presidential primaries. His conclusion: the spots airing in Iowa and New Hampshire looked much like the remaining spots, with issues making up half of all appeals. Geer says primary candidates do not appear to be ideologically extreme not particularly divisive when making their appeals.
Geer, who has written extensively on campaigns, campaign reform and political advertising, can be reached at (615) 343-5746 (work) .
Strong Bush support would reflect pragmatism of religious right
A strong showing by George W. Bush in the upcoming primaries would reflect a willingness to compromise on the part of the religious right, according to Geoff Layman, an assistant professor of political science at Vanderbilt. Newer organizations of the Christian Right have fashioned a more ecumenical strategy, trying to move beyond the largely fundamentalist base of Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority to reach out not only to other evangelicals, but also to theological conservatives in a wide range of Judeo-Christian denominations, he says.
Layman, who is the author of the upcoming book "The Great Divide: Religious and Cultural conflict in American party politics" can be reached at (615) 322-6240 (work) or (615) 883-5171 (home).
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