Electoral Votes and Presidential Campaign Trails,1932-1976

Abstract

This article studies the impact of the Electoral College system on presidential campaigning during 1932-1976. Three variables are analyzed: size, competition, and region. It is hypothesized that candidates will concentrate on larger, more competitive states. And the data show that both parties allocate proportionately more campaign "stops" to larger states than to medium-size or small states. However, when controls are imposed for both size and competition, it is determined that size is the stronger variable. When the context is less competitive, campaigning is still targeted to larger states, with their wealth of electoral votes. A partisan difference in strategy does exist, moreover. Democrats give propor tionately more attention than Republicans to the larger states whereas the GOP con centrates more campaigning on small states. A regional shift in campaigning is noted.