Candidate-Centered Sources of Party Change: The Case of Pat Robertson, 1988

Abstract

The contemporary presidential nomination process is widely criticized for contributing to the "candidate-centered" nature of American politics. In particular, candidates mobilize their own followings during the nomination stage, which contributes to factionalization and divisiveness within the party. While the critics have a point, we contend that these qualities of presidential nominations may also contribute to party responsiveness and change. Insurgent candidates like. Pat Robertson are especially likely to attract underrepresented interests and mobilize them into nomination campaign activity. We show that this nomination-stage mobilization tends to carry over and spill over into the general election stage, both in the party's campaign for president and in U. S. House campaigns. Robertson's candidacy had extraordinary potential to change the Republican. Party because his supporters were very different from supporters of other candidates, and a large proportion were newcomers to active involvement in the presidential nomination process.

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