CPS survey data from 1952 to 1978 are employed in a comparative analysis of the effects of three predictors on voting for House, Senate, gubernatorial, and presidential candidates. Among the findings are: party identification is equally important in voting for all four offices, and despite a declining effect it is still the most important predictor of voting; presidential coattails especially serve as a vote guide for the less informed, and are more important in federal than state elections; incumbency is most important to the moderately aware voter, and only since 1966 has it been most important in House elections.
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