The Power of the Vote: Electing Presidents, Overthrowing Dictators, and Promoting Democracy Around the World [Hardcover]

Douglas E. Schoen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 10, 2007

As the upcoming presidential elections focus attention on the campaign process, this consummate insider draws back the curtain on how modern elections have been transformed in the past quarter-centruy--and how those changes have altered politics, in America and around the world. Widely recognized as the coinventor of the overnight poll, Doug Schoen has spent his career ushering politics into the modern age, fusing the latest technology with refined political strategy, while in constant pursuit of the public’s hearts and minds. In The Power of the Vote, he offers a revealing glimpse inside his most pivotal campaigns and provides an essential primer for understanding elections of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. From the legendary New York City mayoral race of 1977 where he helped Ed Koch claim the throne of New York to Bill Clinton’s reelection campaign in 1996 to Jon Corzine’s stunning victory in the 2000 New Jersey Senate race, Schoen explains his rise to electoral success, examining how his efforts with voter polling revolutionized the practice of democracy in America. But Schoen’s contributions are not merely domestic, and here he also details his decade-long struggle to unseat Slobodan Milosevic, not with cluster bombs and air power but through diligent campaign strategy and sophisticated polling. Providing an intimate, firsthand account of the ten-year struggle in Serbia, he demonstrates that much of the conflict could have been avoided through American support of the Serbian political process. Illustrating that the the most effective nation building occurs at the ballot box, Schoen uses his recent involvement with winning campaigns in Ukraine and the Dominican Republic, as well as an ill-fated effort in Venezuela, to show how exit polls--not military force--are frequently the most effective way to achieve regime change around the globe. Complete with a discussion of the strategies and tactics that will lead the Democrats back the the White House in 2008.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Douglas E. Schoen has been a Democratic campaign consultant for more than thirty years with his firm Penn, Schoen, and Berland Associates. He lives in New York City.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1 edition (April 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061231886
• ISBN-13: 978-0061231889
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,101,225 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read and tought provoking, April 29, 2007

By 

Lance K. Mayer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Power of the Vote: Electing Presidents, Overthrowing Dictators, and Promoting Democracy Around the World (Hardcover)

Not only did the book offer incredible insights into the country's political process, it brought to life many of the moments in history that I grew up with, and particapted in. A great book!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart, challenging, and controversial, April 29, 2007

By 

rebeccafrank "becca" (austin, tx) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Power of the Vote: Electing Presidents, Overthrowing Dictators, and Promoting Democracy Around the World (Hardcover)

How can Democrats win the Presidency? From the middle? From the left? Doug Schoen, who is as smart as they come, stakes out his position and takes on all comers. Great read.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read in this political year!!!, April 28, 2007

By 

Cuda (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Power of the Vote: Electing Presidents, Overthrowing Dictators, and Promoting Democracy Around the World (Hardcover)

Not often do you get to go behind the scenes with one of the top political strategists and pollsters. But in 'The Power of the Vote', Doug Schoen takes you on his journey through the politcal world that he lives in. He does this with insight, rigor, and an easy writing style. It doesn't matter if you're from a Red state or a Blue state; you'll come away with a deeper and broader perspective of the political process.