Taking an author’s manuscript and getting it into print in a polished and professional manner is an arduous task. The entire staff at Cambria Press did a wonderful job refining the final manuscript I gave them. I am very grateful for all of their fine work. I would also like to express my appreciation to the Cambria Press series editors Scott Frisch and Sean Kelly for their work on this project.
In the course of writing this book, I lost two people to whom I am ever indebted: my father, Joe Gierzynski, whose unbounded support of and interest in my work were always encouraging (the same goes for you, Mom); and one of my intellectual “parents,” Malcolm Jewell, whose wonderfully rich insights into politics and government helped shape the way I see elections, political parties and representative democracy.
I would also like to thank my in-laws, Martha and Jim Eddy, who, at various critical “crunch” times on this project watched our little boy, Chay … and a thank you to Chay for his patience with his Daddy because he always seemed to have to be “working on his book.” And, finally, there is my wife, Kate Eddy, to whom this volume is dedicated. Thank you for the happiness you have brought me, for all of your love and support, and for your feedback and help on this book.