Third Parties, Outsiders, and Renegades analyzes 10 third-party, outsider, or renegade presidential candidates and explores each one's impact on the political process. The list of modern outsider candidates who have attracted the public's attention is fairly long, but most of the time the candidates never garner enough support to become elected or they self-destruct somewhere along the way. A few, however, have taken votes away from more mainstream candidates and changed the course of political parties or election outcomes. This book provides readers with an analysis of how their rhetoric, political tactics, and issues have challenged the political status quo and impacted later campaigns. The future viability of outsider candidates is discussed in light of current political polarization and the legacy of Donald J. Trump, the first elected outsider president, and considers how outsider candidates might be able to compete in upcoming elections given the current political divisions within the nation. Scholars and students of communication, political science, and rhetoric will find this book particularly interesting.

Melissa M. Smith is a professor of communication and holds the Gibbons Chair of Journalism at Mississippi University for Women.

Third Parties, Outsiders, and Renegades analyzes 10 third-party, outsider, or renegade presidential candidates and explores each one's impact on the political process. The list of modern outsider candidates who have attracted the public's attention is fairly long, but most of the time the candidates never garner enough support to become elected or they self-destruct somewhere along the way. A few, however, have taken votes away from more mainstream candidates and changed the course of political parties or election outcomes. This book provides readers with an analysis of how their rhetoric, political tactics, and issues have challenged the political status quo and impacted later campaigns. The future viability of outsider candidates is discussed in light of current political polarization and the legacy of Donald J. Trump, the first elected outsider president, and considers how outsider candidates might be able to compete in upcoming elections given the current political divisions within the nation. Scholars and students of communication, political science, and rhetoric will find this book particularly interesting.

Third Parties, Outsiders, and Renegades analyzes 10 third-party, outsider, or renegade presidential candidates and explores each one's impact on the political process. The list of modern outsider candidates who have attracted the public's attention is fairly long, but most of the time the candidates never garner enough support to become elected or they self-destruct somewhere along the way. A few, however, have taken votes away from more mainstream candidates and changed the course of political parties or election outcomes. This book provides readers with an analysis of how their rhetoric, political tactics, and issues have challenged the political status quo and impacted later campaigns. The future viability of outsider candidates is discussed in light of current political polarization and the legacy of Donald J. Trump, the first elected outsider president, and considers how outsider candidates might be able to compete in upcoming elections given the current political divisions within the nation. Scholars and students of communication, political science, and rhetoric will find this book particularly interesting.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1Outsiders and Their Origins

2The Roots of Populism in American Politics

Outsider Presidential Candidates

3Shirley Chisolm: Blazing a Trail for Female and Minority Candidates

4Jesse Jackson: Empathetic Outsider Struggling to Break the Color Barrier

5Ron Paul: Outsider with Libertarian Sensibilities Defending the Constitution

6Donald J. Trump: The First Political Outsider President

Third Party Candidates

7Ross Perot: 'Crazy' Outsider Takes Message Directly to Americans

8Ralph Nader: Crusader and Possible Democratic Spoiler

9Jill Stein: Green Party Candidate, Democratic Scapegoat

Renegade Candidates

10George C. Wallace: Disruptive, Disorderly, and Discordant Renegade Candidate

11Patrick Buchanan: Far-Right Outsider with D.C. Credentials

12Newt Gingrich: Political Language, Hardball Tactics Transform Republican Politics

Implications For Outsiders

13Trump and the 2020 Presidential Election: Populism, Pandemic, and Post-Election Violence

14The Future of Outsider Presidential Candidates

15Final Thoughts