Description: In Small Power, David Doherty, Conor M. Dowling, and Michael G. Miller examine an important, but understudied, aspect of American political parties: the local organizations that are responsible for increasing the party's community visibility, recruiting first-time candidates, and providing the crucial labor that campaigns use to mobilize voters. They argue that despite overseeing small geographies, the leaders of these local parties wield significant power in American politics to shape statewide and federal campaigns. The book also merges a number of data sources--including national surveys and interviews with party leaders--to describe how local party units impact American politics.
Review Quotes: "The quantitative and qualitative information complement each other and make an interesting and compelling case in each chapter. In addition to its relevance to practitioners involved in the local election process, this book is essential for all scholars who study parties and elections. This reviewer would strongly consider using it in his own courses on these topics." -- C. Kinsella, Ball State University, CHOICE