Samuel L. Popkin

Samuel L. Popkin, Professor of Political Science at the University of California, San Diego, will complete a book on the history of presidential campaign strategy and decision-making. Popkin will trace the history of critical campaign decisions from 1948 onwards. He has completed archival research for the book and has interviewed strategists and pollsters from all campaigns since 1960. Popkin will now analyze recurring patterns, questions, and challenges in campaign decision-making and will demonstrate links between congressional agendas and the fortunes of presidential campaigns. The book will also explore how new forms of media – cable, internet, bloggers, etc. – are changing voters’ exposure to information and are also transforming power structures within political parties.