The White Working Class in American Politics: Who They Are and How the Parties Compete for Their Votes.

One of the most frequently debated questions during the 2008 election cycle concerns the politics of the white working class. Can Barack Obama appeal to this group on the basis of his economic proposals, or will John McCain capitalize on their supposed discomfort with Obama's race and unique cultural background? At the heart of this debate is confusion as to how to identify the white working class. Are they low-income or merely those without a college education? In this paper, I propose a new conceptualization and measurement strategy that incorporates both education and income. I also introduce a theoretical framework that emphasizes the complimentary roles played by multiple issue dimensions and populist appeals in campaign's efforts to draw support from the white working class. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]