Studies of Identity in the 2008 Presidential Campaign

Studies of Identity in the 2008 Presidential Campaign explores issues of identity politics and the presidential election. Investigating all aspects of race, gender or ageism, the contributors to this volume address the role and function of 'identity politics' in political campaigns, and highlight challenges of 'identity politics' in contemporary political campaigns.

To simply say the 2008 presidential election was historic seems like an understatement. The election was unique in many ways beyond the selection of the nation's first African-American as President. The drama of the election was also heightened by the historic nomination battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The contest generated issues of race and gender throughout the campaign, as did the candidacy of Sarah Palin as the Republican Vice Presidential nominee. And John McCain brought his own unique qualities to the campaign: Vietnam War hero, long-term Congressional service record, feisty temperament, and the oldest first-time presidential candidate to run for the Presidency. Thus, issues of race, gender and age dominated the campaign both implicitly and explicitly. The candidacies of Clinton, Obama, McCain and Palin provided the context and dynamics for charges of racism, sexism and ageism. Studies of Identity in the 2008 Presidential Campaign explores issues of identity politics and the presidential election. Investigating all aspects of race, gender or ageism, the contributors to this volume address the role and function of 'identity politics' in political campaigns, and highlight challenges of 'identity politics' in contemporary political campaigns.

Chapter 1. Identity Politics in the 2008 Presidential Campaign: An Overview
Chapter 2. Symbolic Womanhood and Sarah Palin: Running Against the Feminist Grain
Chapter 3. "A More Perfect Union": Barack Obama's FailedApologia and Successful Use of Identity Politics
Chapter 4. Playing the Gender Card Against the Stacked Deck: A Comparison of Senator Clinton and Governor Sarah Palin's Gender-based Apologia in the 2008 Presidential Election
Chapter 5. Gender and Race in the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination
Chapter 6. Barack Obama and the Cosmopolitan Candidacy
Chapter 7. Evangelical Voters in the 2008 Republican Presidential Nomination
Chapter 8. Deception Narratives in the 2008 Presidential Campaign
Chapter 9. The Challenges and Limitations of Identity Politics in a Democracy
Chapter 10. Epilogue: The Rhetoric of the Destruction of American Identity and the Academy