Introduction

This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part deals with a discussion of the role of public opinion polls in depicting voters for all citizens. It examines idea of voter images more microscopically, using computer modeling as a tool to understand voter self perception and decision-making processes. The part discusses a particular spin on the idea of American exceptionalism, one tied to the sense of hope voters often feel during campaigns. It explores the mechanisms whereby hope is created and the ways in which that sense of hope translates into electoral activity. The part outlines the association of money and political activity: our democratic bias against the influence of money on politics and our struggles to control the relationship between money and electoral outcomes. It considers presidential elections survey data the ways in which racially loaded messages are constructed indirectly and the degree to which they are correlated with voting patterns.