Calling Elections: The History of Horse-Race Journalism

Littlewood (journalism, U. of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign) examines how and investigates why the treatment of elections as sporting events has come to overshadow reporting of the campaign as a forum for discussing ideas. He cites historical links between politics and gambling, the infusion of sports language into politics, a spoils system under which parties have a financial stake in the election outcome, scientific polling, and other factors. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)