Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This illuminating insider's view of American politics spotlights--and forcefully critiques--the largely unrecognized role played by campaign operatives. Drawing on anonymous interviews with staffers and consultants from both major parties, sociologist Laurison (The Class Ceiling) argues that political operatives are an insular and unrepresentative group who run campaigns based on long-held yet frequently inaccurate beliefs about what wins elections. "Mostly White, mostly men, and mostly from middle- to upper-middle-class backgrounds," campaign professionals rarely interact with regular voters, according to Laurison, and tend to perceive the American electorate as uninform and unmotivated about politics. As a result, they rely on "fear-mongering and attacks on opposing candidates" to drive turnout among occasional voters and their party's base, while ignoring nonvoters, who are "disproportionately poor or working class, and Black, Latinx, Asian American, or Native American." Laurison also contends that "each campaign is conceived and executed as an isolated event rather than part of an ongoing party project," alleges that operatives are more concerned about "fitting in and impressing other politicos" than having "honest, open conversations" with voters, and details the obstacles to designing and interpreting polls. Though somewhat repetitive, Laurison's case for how current campaign practices undermine democracy is detailed and persuasive. Readers will learn much from this peek behind the political curtain. (June)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Laurison (The Class Ceiling: Why It Pays To Be Privileged) interviewed 72 politicos of all stripes to provide many fascinating insights and tidbits, including what it's like to work on a political campaign and whether campaign consultants make a difference. He debunks the idea of puppet masters dictating outcomes. Instead, Americans have tribal allegiances to a political party. He notes that Trump's 2016 supporters stayed with him in 2020. Campaigns, run by mostly white, college educated elite insiders, work hard to mobilize supporters. Campaigns have a pyramid structure, with a tiny group of professionals, known to each other, determining strategy for many paid and unpaid workers. While the work is grueling, consultants see themselves as carrying out a mission. The book is fairly short, at under 200 pages. It is divided into six chapters, describing the inside operations of campaigns, how advisors got their start, and the impact on democracy. Laurinson's research and ability to get candid responses from his anonymous subjects is impressive. While academic in tone, the book is accessible and well written. VERDICT For readers wanting a glimpse into the closed club of political campaign consultants.--Harry Charles
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A study of the secret machinery of politics that interprets the polls, creates the advertisements, and advises the candidates. Sociology professor Laurison, who worked on Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, draws on interviews with the well-paid professionals (all pseudonymous) of a shadowy business. The author strikes a fairly even balance between Democrats and Republicans. Nearly all are White, college-educated, and from well-off families--a long way from the composition of the national polity. While most genuinely believe that a victory for their favored candidate will make the country better, they often see voters as passive players to be subdivided by various traits and manipulated for their votes, mostly via data. They see the candidate as a bundle of positive and negative characteristics whose main roles are to shake hands, raise money, and give tailored speeches. Working on a campaign is a grueling, exhausting job. Laurison asks, are they effective? Even successful politicos acknowledge that a great deal is out of their hands, determined by the broader environment and thematic issues. The author cites convincing research to show that campaign advertising, for example, does not do much, and voter attitudes are very difficult to change. One of the few campaign activities that seems to make a difference is grassroots contact, especially useful in reaching disinterested voters. But volunteer-based fieldwork is an area that professionals largely disregard. Laurison's conclusions are interesting, but his own views occasionally distract from his reasoned analysis. Because he clearly loathes Trump and dislikes those who support him, he offers little examination of his 2016 campaign. If nothing else, Trump's tactics--as dirty as they were--serve as intriguing examples of a successful insurgency campaign. Nevertheless, Laurison makes many important points about how politics reached its current state and where it might go from here. With the midterm elections looming, this detailed study of how campaigns work shines valuable light into dark corners. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
