Interest Groups in American Campaigns is the book it focus on this topic of growing significance. Drawing on their extensive exercise in this area as well as interviews with interest group leaders, campaign finance filings, and data from exit polls and election surveys. The authors focus on the role of interest groups in elections of all kinds -- presidential, congressional, gubernatorial, and local.
The authors outline the unique characteristics of American elections that allow interest groups to play such an important part. For example, the weakening of political parties and their lack of grass-roots impact have allowed interest groups to fill an important void in mobilizing citizens and giving them the skills they need to participate in politics.
Also considered are possible reforms as the role and power of interest groups in shaping policy after the election is decided.
