On the 2008 Presidential Election

Introduction

This is our election issue of The Forum. Two articles consider fundamental demographic influences on the 2008 election: Paul Sniderman and Edward Stiglitz on race and the vote, and David Kimball on interest groups and the campaign. Two articles consider fundamental procedural influences: Byron Shafer and Amber Wichowsky on the nominations and the election, and Michael McDonald on voter turnout. Two articles consider major substantive influences on the 2008 election: Rob Saldin on foreign affairs, and David Walker on the economy, by way of election forecasting. And three articles offer distinctive overviews of the entire contest: James Campbell on the contingency of the outcome, James Ceaser and Daniel DiSalvo on its place in history, and Philip Klinkner and Thomas Schaller on its coalitional underpinnings. In addition, in his analysis of the first year of the Roberts Court, Cornell Clayton links the fortunes of John Roberts and Barack Obama. Lastly, this election issue offers two reviews of books with electoral implications going forward: Michael Lind on Morton Keller, America's Three Regimes, plus Thomas Langston on Steven Shier, Panorama of a Presidency.

We invite our readers to join us for a special online discussion of the articles in this election issue on The Monkey Cage, a blog that specializes in informed commentary on political events and topics. We look forward to your comments.