PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION CAMPAIGNS AND PARTY MOBILIZATION - AN ASSESSMENT OF SPILLOVER EFFECTS

Theory: Contrary to scholars who criticize the openness of the contemp orary system of selecting presidential nominees, we theorize that citi zen participation in presidential nomination campaigns can have benefi cial effects for a political party's subsequent mobilization efforts. Hypothesis: Presidential-level campaign mobilization before the summer nominating conventions increases the activist's work on behalf of Uni ted States House candidates during the general election (this relation ship is labeled the spillover effect). Methods: Path analysis is used (estimated via LISREL), based on a panel survey of presidential nomina tion participants in 1988 and 1992. Results: Activity in congressional campaigns conforms to expectations. In no instance does involvement i n losing presidential nomination campaigns cause Individuals to defect from fall campaign work at the House-level; rather, preconvention mob ilization into presidential politics tends to increase participation o n behalf of House candidates. Furthermore, such spillover effects are long-term; involvement ina nomination campaign in 1988 is found to inc rease participation in congressional campaigns four years later.