1.7 Factors Affecting Voter Behavior

Solid South

Traditionally Democratic but increasingly more Republican.

Great Plains

Region that shows a Republican trend. (Closer to Great Lakes)

Rocky Mountain

Region that shows a Republican trend. (Farther from Great Lakes)

New England

Region that has been increasingly Democratic in recent years.

Great Lakes

Democratic trend with heavily populated swing states.

Coattail effect

The influence of a strong presidential candidate on other candidates of the same party.

Maintaining elections

Elections where political alignment remains the same over time.

Realigning elections

Elections that result in long-term changes in political alignment.

Independents

Voters not affiliated with either major political party, increasingly a large portion of the electorate.

Retrospective voting

Voting based on looking back at past performance of candidates.

Prospective voting

Voting based on candidates' views and proposed policies.

JFK, Clinton, Bush 43, Obama

Examples of successful candidate appeal.

Dukakis, Dole, Kerry, Romney, Trump

Examples of candidates with poor candidate appeal.