The Money Signal - (Chicago Studies in American Politics) by Danielle M Thomsen

About the Book

"A data-rich, eye-opening look at how, when, and why political fundraising is consequential. Over the last two decades, the number of competitive congressional races has declined precipitously. Yet candidates and officeholders dial for more and more dollars each election, and they do so earlier and earlier in the campaign cycle. In The Money Signal, Danielle M. Thomsen offers a new perspective on the role of money in politics. She shows that fundraising matters because it is widely used as an indicator of a candidate's viability and strength, which shapes subsequent donations, dropout decisions, media attention, and rewards in office. Put simply, money is a focal point that candidates, donors, journalists, and party leaders rally around. For candidates, fundraising is a highly public form of self-presentation that pays dividends long before the election and well after the votes are cast. Thomsen draws on comprehensive fundraising data that spans more than four decades, in addition to interviews, surveys of candidates and donors, newspaper coverage, committee assignments, and legislative success. The Money Signal highlights the numerous ways that dollars influence the perceptions and behavior of key actors and observers throughout the election cycle"--

Book Synopsis

A data-rich, eye-opening look at how, when, and why political fundraising is consequential.

Over the last two decades, the number of competitive congressional races has declined precipitously. Yet candidates and officeholders dial for more and more dollars each election, and they do so earlier and earlier in the campaign cycle.

In The Money Signal, Danielle M. Thomsen offers a new perspective on the role of money in politics. She shows that fundraising matters because it is widely used as an indicator of a candidate's viability and strength, which shapes subsequent donations, dropout decisions, media attention, and rewards in office. Put simply, money is a focal point that candidates, donors, journalists, and party leaders rally around. For candidates, fundraising is a highly public form of self-presentation that pays dividends long before the election and well after the votes are cast.

Thomsen draws on comprehensive fundraising data that spans more than four decades, in addition to interviews, surveys of candidates and donors, newspaper coverage, committee assignments, and analysis of legislative success. The Money Signal highlights the numerous ways that dollars influence the perceptions and behavior of key actors and observers throughout the election cycle.

Review Quotes

"Well researched and eye-opening, this makes a powerful case for not only campaign finance reform but changes to how races are reported on in the media."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"Campaign money plays a central role in the strategic decision-making of all major participants in congressional election politics: potential and actual candidates, party organizations, campaign donors, the press, and, eventually, voters. The Money Signal is an original, unique synthesis of how the decisions of multiple players interact to shape electoral processes."--Gary C. Jacobson author of "Presidents and Parties in the Public Mind"

"Essential reading for understanding how money truly shapes American politics, The Money Signal is a landmark contribution. Thomsen masterfully shows how and why early money matters, revealing how the 'money primary' acts as a signal of viability that influences candidates, donors, media, and party strategy. Thomsen's compelling empirical work reshapes our view of elections and representation."--Adam Bonica Stanford University

"Thomsen's important new book reframes our understanding of the role of money in elections. Thomsen shows how money is far more than just a resource that enables candidates to purchase goods and services for their campaigns. Fundraising has become a measuring rod by which all relevant political actors assess candidate quality and viability, assessments that in turn drive candidates' successes and failures."--Frances E. Lee Princeton University

About the Author

Danielle M. Thomsen is associate professor of political science at the University of California, Irvine. She is the author of Opting Out of Congress: Partisan Polarization and the Decline of Moderate Candidates.