Christian P. Potholm has worked as a political insider and activist for much of the last forty years, dividing his time between the classroom and the election arena. In looking at the interactive ebb and flow of political campaigns. Potholm uses both quantitative and qualitative analysis to understand the process and make predictions regarding the outcome. He contends that political campaigns waged in the state of Maine display a strong dynamic quality independent of the instant polls and reports that our media sources use to predict outcomes. Potholm shows that Maine's political campaigns are underpinned by a positive sense of well-being unique to the state, a character that celebrates its freedom and essence in all facets of society. Potholm dissects his study using data as well as anecdotal references to share the political and psychological dimensions of Maine politics in all of its dynamism. Book jacket.

Christian P. Potholm is De Alva Stanwood Alexander Professor of Government at Bowdoin College