ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at a few factors which form the context for examining election strategy and tactics. For the Democrats, as the majority party, to run a completely partisan campaign is one very acceptable strategy for them stemming really from Roosevelt and the New Deal coalition. But the strategy for a president is presumably, stay in the White House, act presidential and hopefully do something that is presidential. People must vote for the President on the basis of that election alone, and not because of what is happening in state and local parties or in the state and local political context. Presentation of presidential candidates is another campaign factor. The chapter outlines the milieu in which the 1980 campaign is occurring, a milieu which has raised serious questions among academics, commentators, editors, and voters as to Americas' capacity to govern itself.
