Learn more about elections, polling, and the media by visiting the websites listed below.
Sites marked with ** do require subscriptions, but offer more in-depth coverage as a result.
I. GENERAL ELECTION LINKS:
**http://www.nationaljournal.com
This is a membership site but has amazing analysis and ad spotlights with the hottest campaign ads.
http://www.mediaresearchcenter.com/campaign/02/welcome.asp
Media Research Center election 2002 coverage Ð conservative media watchdog group
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS
Check out "In the Crossfire" which discusses how the elections and war with Iraq pushed terrorism issue off of the front burner.
http://www.pollingreport.com/cong2002.htm
Contains all sorts of information about congressional races.
http://www.fec.gov
Federal Election Commission site for campaign finance reports.
http://www.opensecrets.org
Site that allows you to look up all sorts of information about candidates' contributors.
http://www.opensecrets.org/pressreleases/Election2002Analysis.asp
Link to article talking about the role of money in the 2002 elections.
http://www.opensecrets.org/overview/index.asp
Direct link to general overview of Congressional races Ð who spent the most, how much was spent in the Senate and House as a whole, etc.
The Pew Center for People and the Press Ð and related articles:
http://people-press.org/commentary/display.php3?AnalysisID=55
(this link considers the question of "the generic ballot" test Ð how many people report voting Democratic or Republican in 2002).
http://people-press.org/commentary/display.php3?AnalysisID=58
(this link analyzes the GOP's gain in the House relative to past elections).
Roper Public Opinion Polling Ð and related articles:
**http://www.election.cbsnews.com/campaign2002/
The best site Ð this gives a map and polling results by state for all offices elected in 2002. Click on state for results. You can also click on "by county" for county by county results.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/06/politics/main528295.shtml
Discussion of polling and campaign 2002. Click on "Elections at a Glance in the right hand column. This will bring you to a Campaign 2002 graphic with an interactive page connection at the top. You can also click on photos of Election Day in different states and more maps of results broken down by race.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/DailyNews/election2002_subindex.html
General campaign 2002 link
C-SPAN:
http://capwiz.com/c-span/election/
Interactive map and candidate finder with all sorts of related resources about campaign 2002, from campaign finance, to profiles of the Congress, etc..
**http://www.c-span.org/Campaign2002/politicalads.asp
Debates and political ads from 2002.
II. THEMES FROM ELECTION 2002:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/831065.asp#BODY
Story by Andrew Kohut, Director of Pew Center, on how to improve voter turnout.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/835641.asp
Story by Eleanor Clift of Newsweek on the results for women in election 2002.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/832464.asp
"How Bush Did It" Ð analysis of Bush's victories across the country.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/socialsecurity021030.html
Article on hot issue of campaign 2002 Ð social security and how to define it.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/3448617.html
Growing use of Spanish language advertising.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/3439240.html
Can advocacy groups donate to candidates? Ð court will hear case.
III. LINKS TO 5 INTERESTING CASE STUDIES:
South Dakota:
http://www.state.sd.us/sos/sos.htm
South Dakota Secretary of State web page with all election results available. See U.S. Senate race for close results.
http://www.southdakotaelections.com/Section.cfm?Type=USSenate
Several articles on the South Dakota Senate race, one of the tightest in the country.
Minnesota:
http://www.sos.state.mn.us/
Minnesota Secretary of State web page with all election results available. See U.S. Senate, Governor's Race, and Roberts v. Kennedy races for interesting, close results.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/3421398.html
Story on how the campaigns dealt with plane crash and moved forward.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/3432943.html
Story on election returns Ð U.S. Senate.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/3427588.html
Discussion of Wellstone and memorial service.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/3426838.html
Discussion of fundraising dilemma with new candidate in campaign.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/3421489.html
Evidence of the importance of the independent voter).
Texas:
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/
Texas Secretary of State web page with all election results available. See U.S. Senate, Governor's Race, Lt. Governor's Race, and Bonilla/Cuellar U.S. House race for interesting results.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/DailyNews/texas_021021.html
U.S. Senate race between African American candidate Ron Kirk (D) and John Cornyn (R.).
http://www.mysanantonio.com/specials/elections/index.cfm
Coverage of several Texas races).
Louisiana:
http://www.sec.state.la.us/
Louisiana's Secretary of State web page with all election results available.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/3435273.html
Mary Landrieu run-off race.
Massachusetts:
http://www.state.ma.us/sec/ele/
Secretary of State web page with all election results available.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/women_gov_candidates021004.html
Examining the issue of the "glass ceiling" in the governor's race.