Strategic Canvassing by Political Parties, 1952-1990

Authors

  • Peter W. Wielhouwer

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15763/issn.2374-7781.1995.16.0.213-238

Abstract

The activities of political parties, and particularly local party organizations, are geared toward cultivating the relationship between the electorate and those who govern. This paper adds to the theoretical and empirical literature on party activities by focusing on one of the primary mechanisms by which parties attempt to stimulate political participation on behalf of their candidates: the party canvass. Using the 1952-90 National Election Studies, I examine the contacting patterns of the two major U.S. parties, and argue that political parties contact individuals in the electorate not randomly, but strategically, targeting their canvassing efforts to specific individuals and groups within the electorate. This can only be done imperfectly, but with technological increases over the last 40 years, the parties have become somewhat more efficient in their contacting activities and in their ability to target such contacts.

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Published

1995-11-01

Issue

Vol. 16: Fall 1995

Section

Articles

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