Money in Elections
Money is important in campaigns, but it does not automatically guarantee what.
What is Victory?
Reasoning: Skinner argues that “money matters, but it is not everything,” showing that fundraising alone does not determine election outcomes.
An incumbent is someone who currently holds this.
Answer: What is office?
Reasoning: The reading defines incumbents as current officeholders seeking reelection.
Many voters consistently support this political organization.
Answer: What is a political party?
Text Evidence: Skinner explains party identification strongly influences voting behavior.
The overall public feeling about national direction is called this.
Answer: What is national mood?
Text Evidence: Skinner discusses how public opinion shapes election outcomes.
Myth or Reality: The highest spender always wins.
Answer: What is Myth?
Text Evidence: Skinner provides evidence that spending advantages do not guarantee victory.
Money helps candidates mainly by allowing them to do this for voters.
What is Communicate/advertise.
Reasoning: Skinner explains that campaign funds are primarily used for “purchasing television time, producing campaign materials, and paying for staff and voter outreach,” which allows candidates to communicate their message to voters but does not directly persuade all voters or guarantee support.
Incumbents benefit from built-in public familiarity known as this.
Answer: What is name recognition?
Reasoning: Skinner notes incumbents start with higher visibility because voters already know them.
Long-term loyalty to a political party is called this.
Answer: What is party identification?
Text Evidence: The reading identifies party ID as a major predictor of voting decisions.
If a president is unpopular, candidates from his party may suffer due to this effect.
Answer: What is the coattail effect/negative coattail effect?
Text Evidence: The reading explains that national approval ratings influence down-ballot races.
Reality: Elections are influenced by money plus this.
Answer: What are multiple structural and political factors?
Text Evidence: The thesis states that elections are shaped by more than just financial resources.
According to Skinner, money is necessary but not this.
What is sufficient?
Reason: The author argues that money is a necessary condition for competitive campaigns but not a sufficient condition for winning elections.
Incumbents often find it easier to raise this than challengers.
Answer: What is campaign money/funds?
Reasoning: The chapter explains incumbents attract donors due to perceived electability and existing power.
Strong party support can provide candidates with volunteers, money, and this.
Answer: What is organizational support?
Text Evidence: Parties provide campaign infrastructure beyond financial resources.
Economic performance often influences this voter behavior.
Answer: What is vote choice?
Text Evidence: The chapter notes voters respond to economic conditions when evaluating candidates.
Myth or Reality: Challengers always lose if outspent.
Answer: What is Myth?
Text Evidence: Skinner presents cases where challengers win under favorable conditions.
Candidates use money to increase this among voters.
Answer: What is name recognition?
Reasoning: The chapter discusses how funds help challengers build visibility and public awareness.
Incumbents can point to this as proof of effectiveness.
Answer: What is their record/achievements while in office?
Reasoning: The reading highlights that incumbents campaign on past achievements.
In heavily partisan districts, election outcomes are often predictable because of this.
Answer: What is partisan alignment?
Text Evidence: Skinner notes that district-level party strength can predetermine outcomes.
When one party gains many seats due to favorable national conditions, this occurs.
Answer: What is a wave election?
Text Evidence: Skinner describes broad electoral shifts tied to national context.
Reality: Voters often rely on this shortcut when making decisions.
Answer: What is party identification?
Text Evidence: The reading identifies party ID as a cognitive shortcut in voting behavior.
When a well-funded candidate loses, this larger factor is often at play.
Answer: What is political context/electoral environment?
Reasoning: Skinner explains that broader structural and political conditions often outweigh fundraising totals.
Even when outspent, incumbents often win because of this structural advantage.
Answer: What is incumbency advantage?
Reasoning: Skinner shows that incumbency often outweighs fundraising differences.
Party loyalty can sometimes matter more than this measurable campaign factor.
Answer: What is money raised?
Text Evidence: The chapter repeatedly stresses that money does not override strong partisan voting habits.
According to Skinner, campaigns operate within this larger environment that shapes outcomes.
Answer: What is political environment or electoral context?
Text Evidence: The reading stresses campaigns do not operate in isolation but within structural conditions.
Scenario:
Candidate A raises $7 million.
Candidate B raises $3 million but is an incumbent in a strongly partisan district during a favorable national climate.
Question: Who is more likely to win and why?
Answer: What is Candidate B, because incumbency, party loyalty, and favorable political context outweigh money alone?
Text Evidence: Skinner argues that structural advantages like incumbency and partisan alignment often matter more than financial disparities.