No Holding Back tells the story of John Anderson's 1980 presidential
campaign. Anderson gave up a safe seat in the House of
Representatives, a position in the Republican leadership, and a likely
nomination for a Senate seat to run what every expert considered a
hopeless race for the GOP presidential nomination. Anderson did so
because he was disturbed by many of the same trends in American
politics that still exist today: the proliferation of special
interests, gridlock on Capitol Hill, and the unwillingness of his
fellow politicians to speak honestly about the critical issues facing
the nation. More than anything, Anderson wanted to make a statement
about how candidates ought to run for office: by rejecting quick-fix
solutions, being candid on where one stood on matters of policy, and
not sugarcoating the problems that faced voters. Anderson ran as a
kind of anti-candidate. He had a unique campaigning style and offered
proposals that differed greatly from the standard Republican
viewpoint. People found him refreshingly direct and different. As
interest turned to the campaign, he attracted widespread media
attention. He performed beyond expectations in the first round of
primaries and soon switched to an independent candidacy. By June, he
was running at 26% in a three-way race against Jimmy Carter and Ronald
Reagan. Against the backdrop of runaway inflation, the Iranian hostage
situation, a debilitating energy crisis, and a discredited incumbent
president, pollsters found him winning unprecedented support. But
during the summer, troubled by ballot access problems, financial
issues, institutional obstacles, and management difficulties,
Anderson's polling totals began to fall. Once it became clear that he
would not win, his support collapsed and he limped to a 7% finish.
This final result has greatly undermined the importance of this
campaign. It has influenced numerous future candidates and changed the
way many politicians would run for office. His was the first candidacy
to expose how voters would appreciate a new realism in campaigning and
demonstrated the interest that exists in candidates who run against
politics-as-usual. His campaign reawakened the faith of voters that
politics could be more truthful, pure, and honorable. No Holding Back
tells the story of this remarkable American political melodrama.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780761852278
Publisert
2012
Utgiver
Vendor
University Press Of America
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter