Political scientists who descend to the blogosphere are at pains to make the rest of us understand that, to paraphrase Yogi Berra, 95 percent of electoral combat is half structural -- that is, national election results are driven mainly by the state of the economy, at least in peacetime. Candidates' skills and political strategy matter only at the margins -- though in a close election, the margin can be decisive.
Question for political scientists
Question for political scientists
Question for political scientists
Political scientists who descend to the blogosphere are at pains to make the rest of us understand that, to paraphrase Yogi Berra, 95 percent of electoral combat is half structural -- that is, national election results are driven mainly by the state of the economy, at least in peacetime. Candidates' skills and political strategy matter only at the margins -- though in a close election, the margin can be decisive.