Open AccessThe Unfinished Presidencies: Why Incumbent Presidents May Lose Their Re-Election Bids
Author(s) -
Luís da Vinha,
Niklas Ernst
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
perspectivas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2184-3902
DOI - 10.21814/perspectivas.100
Subject(s) - presidency , nomination , presidential system , presidential election , political science , politics , government (linguistics) , public administration , divided government , political economy , law , law and economics , economics , philosophy , linguistics
With the conclusion of the 2016 presidential election in the US, presidential scholars have shifted their attention not only to the Trump presidency, but also towards his possible re-election campaign. Throughout the history of the United States incumbent presidents have usually won their bid for a second term in office. The presidency offers incumbents several inherent electoral advantages – e.g., party nomination and unified party base, name recognition and political experience, access to government resources. However, some incumbent candidates have been unable to capitalize on these advantages. The current paper analyzes the electoral bids of Presidents Ford, Carter, and Bush, identifying the factors that can invalidate the advantages intrinsic to holding the office of President of the United States.