Bedford Public Library

Down ballot, how a local campaign became a national referendum on abortion, Patrick Wohl

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Down ballot

bibliography

1375438169

Patrick Wohl

how a local campaign became a national referendum on abortion

"In 1990, a suburban Chicago race for the Republican Party nomination for state representative between Penny Pullen and Rosemary Mulligan unexpectedly became a national proxy battle over abortion in the United States. But the hard-fought primary also illustrated the overlooked importance of down-ballot contests in America's culture wars. Patrick Wohl offers the dramatic account of a rollercoaster campaign that, after attracting political celebrities and a media circus, came down to thirty-one votes, a coin toss to determine the winner, and a recount fight that set a precedent for how to count dimpled chads. As the story unfolds, Wohl provides a rare nuts-and-bolts look at an election for state office from its first days through the Illinois Supreme Court decision that decided the winner--and set the stage for a decisive 1992 rematch. A compelling political page-turner, Down Ballot takes readers behind the scenes of a legendary Illinois election"--, Provided by publisher

Amendment XXVII -- Rosemary Mulligan -- Blood terrorists -- Henry Penny -- Two cents -- On the trail -- Raccoons, reporters, and rapists' rights -- GOTV -- Dimpled chads -- Heads or tails -- Rematch -- Talk of the town -- Goldwater girls

adult