The Stalking-Horse Module
IDEOLOGIC analysis of Gov. Pete Wilson's success in California and his failed presidential bid clearly identifies a single factor containing several social and economic issues (gay rights, abortion, race, education, affirmative action, and immigration) which uses immigration as the stalking-horse issue. In California, Wilson affected voters' assessments on these other issues without raising them by discussing the surrogate issue -- immigration policy -- because California voters link these issues together in their assessments of candidates. So, immigration acted as a powerful surrogate issue, in California.
Go to the IDEOLOGIC assessment of California voter data.
Go to discussion of Enhanced IDEOLOGIC's additional advantages.
For more information, contact the IDEOLOGICal group by email.