This guided tour of the inner workings of the election campaign process demystifies the often murky world of professional politics. Offering a unique blend of theory and practice, 'Inside Political Campaigns' draws on the experiences of political scientists who have played such key roles as campaign managers, consultants, media advisers, and even candidates. First-hand accounts of races run at the local, state, and national levels reveal the many complex facets of the modern electoral process. Highlighting lessons learned, the authors provide a unique introduction to both the study and the execution of political campaigns.|This guided tour of the inner workings of the election campaign process demystifies the often murky world of professional politics. Offering a unique blend of theory and practice, 'Inside Political Campaigns' draws on the experiences of political scientists who have played such key roles as campaign managers, consultants, media advisers, and even candidates. First-hand accounts of races run at the local, state, and national levels reveal the many complex facets of the modern electoral process. Highlighting lessons learned, the authors provide a unique introduction to both the study and the execution of political campaigns.