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Challenger's advantage

Posted by Word Camel on October 08, 2004

In Reply to: Challenger's advantage posted by ESC on October 08, 2004

: : : In politics, the challenger is often said to have great disadvantages compared with the incumbent. Under the current situation in the US, however, the challenger has only to say that the incumbent did it wrong, and I would have done it right. His alternate plan, which has not been tested in the real world, would work while the incumbents real life plan had flaws and shortcomings.
: : : Seems to me that you need a very closely split and divided electorate for this strategy to bear fruit. Is there any other evidence of this approach succeeding in a democracy?

: :
: : what does it have to do with phrases?

: I guess the phrase is "challenger's advantage."

Doh! That would make sense. Usually in US politics though, the incumbent usually has the advantage - even if he/she didn't do a very good job. I'm not sure why that is. Maybe it has to do with people feeling more conservative about elections than other things. Better the devil you know...

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