ABSTRACT
Three developments marked the primaries, often the most contentious and interesting part of the election year. First, the early front-runners, Vice President AI Gore for the Democrats and Texas Governor George W. Bush for the Republicans, entered the election year as the odds-on favourites to win their party's nominations. Each had the money, staffing, organized support at the state level, and name recognition that leads to success. Each also was the choice of their party's most influential elites and of the formal party organization. Second, each faced initially stiff competition from unexpected sources: former U. S. Senator from New Jersey and college and professional basketball star Bill Bradley for the Democrats and Arizona Senator John McCain for the Republicans. And third, the initial frontrunners overcame spirited contests early in the prenomination season, to win overwhelmingly. The Democrats and Republicans constitute two different coalitions with different conceptions of government and different policy objectives.
