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Re-Drawing the Line on DistrictCompetition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 February 2006

Michael P. McDonald
Michael P. McDonald
Affiliation:
George Mason University
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Extract

I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to Abramowitz,Alexander, and Gunning's (2006b) rejoinder to my critique of theirarticle appearing in this same issue entitled “Don't BlameRedistricting for Uncompetitive Elections” (2006a). We should havehad a scholarly debate that informed the profession and raisedinteresting questions in one of the widest read journals. Instead,Abramowitz, Alexander, and Gunning mischaracterize my arguments asif this was a political talk show debate, and it is telling thatthey never directly quote me in their rejoinder. The few sourcescited in support of their methodology, upon close inspection,provide no support to their measurement choice or findings. I hopethat fair-minded readers will carefully evaluate all material,including cited sources, to reach their own judgment. I concludethis article with some thoughts that I hope shed light on the lowlevels of electoral competition that Abramowitz, Alexander, andGunning and I agree characterize current congressionalelections.

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Type
FEATURES
Information
PS: Political Science & Politics , Volume 39 , Issue 1 , January 2006 , pp. 99 - 101
Copyright
© 2006 The American Political Science Association

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