Party Unity: Appearance and Reality

Abstract

V. 0. Key states the standard criteria by which nominating conventions have to be judged successful. convention provides a means for the contending factions and within a party to consult and agree upon the terms on which they will work in the presidential campaign. The resulting of exerts a formidable power throughout the nation.1 The concert of interests referred to by V. 0. Key represents one end of a continuum or dimension that ranges from complete disunity to perfect harmony. There may be various steps or levels between the two extremes, each with its distinctive consequences. For example, the willingness of rival factions to come together at the convention-even though the of is less than complete-may mobilize the support of attentive partisans whose media exposure to convention events often constitutes their first act of participation in the presidential election campaign. The behavior of candidates, party leaders, and their supporters constitutes an important cue to followers outside. Repudiation of the nominee by the losing faction, a divisive floor