Flip-flopping from primaries to general elections |
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Authors: | Patrick Hummel |
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Institution: | Yahoo! Research, 2397 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 204, Berkeley, CA, USA 94704 |
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Abstract: | I consider a model in which candidates must win a primary election to compete in the general election. Candidates may choose different policies in the primary and the general election, but doing so results in accusations of flip-flopping. I show that candidates adopt extreme policies in the primaries but then try to move closer to the center for the general election even though primary voters are forward-looking and anticipate this policy moderation. The extent to which candidates move closer to the center is constrained by flip-flopping costs, and candidates choose divergent policies in the general election. I obtain comparative statics results on candidate policy choices in terms of voter preferences. |
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