WILLIAM L. BENOIT is Professor of Communication at the University of Missouri. Benoit has published extensively in political communication, including The Clinton Scandals and the Politics of Image Restoration, with Joseph R. Blaney (Praeger, 2001).
P. M. PIER is a lecturer at Wartburg College In addition to Campaign '96: A Functional Analysis of Acclaiming, Attaching, and Defending, with William L. Benoit and Joseph R. Blaney (Praeger, 1998), she has published in various scholarly journals.
LeANN M. BRAZEAL is with the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri./e She has published in Argumentation and Advocacy.
JOHN P. McHALE is with the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri./e He has published in Communication Quarterly and Critical Studies in Media Communication.
ANDREW KLYUKOVSKI is Assistant Professor at Truman State University./e He has published in Critical Studies in Media Communication.
DAVID AIRNE is with the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri./e He has published in Critical Studies in Media Communication.

Preface
Introduction
Method and Procedures: Analyzing Acclaims, Attacks, and Defenses
Early Primary Debates: 1948, 1960, 1968, 1972, 1980
Republican Primary Debates: "I Paid for This Microphone!"
1984 Democratic Primary Debates: Morning Again in America
1988 Primary Debates: What After Reagan?
1992: Who Will Challenge the Leader of Desert Storm?
2000: Who Will Be the First President of the New Millennium?
Conclusions
Appendix: List of Primary Debates
Appendix: Sample Acclaims and Attacks on Forms of Policy and of Character
References
Index

Benoit and his colleagues apply the functional theory of political campaign discourse to 25 presidential primary debates beginning with the 1948 American presidential primary campaign. They conclude with the 2000 presidential primaries.
They identify the functions, topics, and targets of attacks, and the results are compared with research on primary TV spots and with general debates. An important resource for scholars and students of American presidential and party elections and political communications.