THE HOLLOW REALIGNMENT PARTISAN CHANGE IN A CANDIDATE-CENTERED ERA

In 1984 identification with the Republican party increased tothe point where the plurality of Democrats over Republicansreached its lowest point since such measurements began in 1952.Yet the realignment is a hollow one between two parties whostill have a weak image in the public mind and an uncertainrole in the future of American government. While the balanceof power between the two parties shifted, the importance ofpolitical parties to the electorate remained at an historicallyweak level. Split-ticket voting continued to be high and roughlya third of the electorate had nothing to say-either positiveor negative-about both the parties. In short, realignment occurredin 1984 without party revitalization and the reestablishmentof the linkage between parties and candidates.