The Money Primary: The New Politics of the Early Presidential Nomination Process

Extract

The Money Primary: The New Politics of the Early Presidential Nomination Process. By Michael J. Goff. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2004. 228p. $70.00 cloth, $26.95 paper.

As the amount of money raised by those who win the major parties' nominations for president has soared out of sight, scholars, the media, and even the general public have become seriously concerned. Michael Goff's book examines the “money primary,” fund-raising before a single primary or caucus vote has even been cast. He sees it, along with media attention and poll rankings, as crucial in determining the viability and eventual success of candidates. The interrelatons of these factors can be seen in his three main hypotheses. Strong fund-raising predicts survival and “success in the early nomination process” (p. 11). Extensive early fund-raising organization and activity increase the possibility of success. Media coverage of these activities forecasts candidate viability and success. In other words, money is important not only for what it can buy but as an early indicator of comparative candidate strength.