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GERALD M. POMPER, ed., The Election of 1992 (Chatham, NJ: Chatham House, 1993), 230 pp. $25.00 cloth (ISBN 1-56643-003-8), $16.95 paper (ISBN 1-56643-001-1).
This time around is no different: Pomper's fifth in a series on American presidential elections is a solid piece of work, with strong contributions from some of America's best known scholars. Water Dean Burnham writes about the "legacy of George Bush," Ross Baker covers the nominations, and Christopher Arterton describes the candidates' tactics and strategies. Kathleen Frankovic presents an array of facts and figures on public opinion, and Pomper does the same for the election itself. Marjorie Randon Hershey covers the congressional elections, and Wilson Carey McWilliams provides a concluding essay titled, "The Meaning of the Election."
The book begins on a refreshing note of honesty. Pomper concedes that the election of 1992 unfolded in ways that no one--not even the aforementioned experts--predicted. When they first agreed to collaborate, they shared the prevailing view that the year would be an easy call. Bush's standing in the polls was high. Bill Clinton was the still largely unknown governor of a small state. And Ross Perot's business was business.
But as conventional wisdoms toppled, new lessons were learned. Pomper ticks off at least five at the outset: 1. Incumbency can damage a sitting president. 2. Nomination campaigns can overcome initial adversity. 3. Negative...