ABSTRACT
American political parties are oft en defi ned as a collection of individuals with common interests. Th e extent of this commonality, however, varies considerably from time to time as change unfolds. Parties are loose and changeable collections of candidates, party offi cials, organized groups, and groups of unorganized voters. Candidates seek voters and groups seek policy commitments. Elites-candidates and party offi cials-seek to connect with organized groups (NRA or the Sierra Club) and unorganized “groups” (those pro-life or pro-choice) to attract their support (Aldrich 1995). Groups simultaneously seek policy commitments from candidates in exchange for the group’s endorsement and support. Th ese interactions are complicated by social change which can alter group interests and shift what specifi c groups want from candidates (Karol 2009).
