George C. Edwards III is University Distinguished Professor of Political Science and the Jordan Chair in Presidential Studies at Texas A&M University. His many books include Overreach: Leadership in the Obama Presidency and The Strategic President: Persuasion and Opportunity in Presidential Leadership (both Princeton).

• List of Figures ix List of Tables xi Preface xiii Chapter 1 Asking the Right Questions 1 PART I PREDICTING THE PRESIDENCY Chapter 2 Strategic Position with the Public 15 Chapter 3 Strategic Position with Congress 34 Chapter 4 Different Questions, Different Answers 53 PART II EXPLOITING OPPORTUNITIES Chapter 5 Reinforcing Opinion 77 Chapter 6 Exploiting Existing Opinion 107 Chapter 7 Cross-Pressuring Opinion 138 Chapter 8 Reaching the Base 160 Chapter 9 Exploiting Partisans in Congress 183 PART III CONCLUSION Chapter 10 Leadership, Opportunity, and Strategic Assessments 203 Notes 215 Index 255

"Edwards' central findings on the limits of presidential persuasion are in my view some of the most important in the literature of American politics. . . . Predicting the Presidency should be widely read."---Paul J. Quirk, Congress & the Presidency

George C. Edwards III is University Distinguished Professor of Political Science and the Jordan Chair in Presidential Studies at Texas A&M University. His many books include Overreach: Leadership in the Obama Presidency and The Strategic President: Persuasion and Opportunity in Presidential Leadership (both Princeton).

• List of Figures ix List of Tables xi Preface xiii Chapter 1 Asking the Right Questions 1 PART I PREDICTING THE PRESIDENCY Chapter 2 Strategic Position with the Public 15 Chapter 3 Strategic Position with Congress 34 Chapter 4 Different Questions, Different Answers 53 PART II EXPLOITING OPPORTUNITIES Chapter 5 Reinforcing Opinion 77 Chapter 6 Exploiting Existing Opinion 107 Chapter 7 Cross-Pressuring Opinion 138 Chapter 8 Reaching the Base 160 Chapter 9 Exploiting Partisans in Congress 183 PART III CONCLUSION Chapter 10 Leadership, Opportunity, and Strategic Assessments 203 Notes 215 Index 255

"Edwards' central findings on the limits of presidential persuasion are in my view some of the most important in the literature of American politics. . . . Predicting the Presidency should be widely read."---Paul J. Quirk, Congress & the Presidency

George C. Edwards III is University Distinguished Professor of Political Science and the Jordan Chair in Presidential Studies at Texas A&M University. His many books include Overreach: Leadership in the Obama Presidency and The Strategic President: Persuasion and Opportunity in Presidential Leadership (both Princeton).

• List of Figures ix List of Tables xi Preface xiii Chapter 1 Asking the Right Questions 1 PART I PREDICTING THE PRESIDENCY Chapter 2 Strategic Position with the Public 15 Chapter 3 Strategic Position with Congress 34 Chapter 4 Different Questions, Different Answers 53 PART II EXPLOITING OPPORTUNITIES Chapter 5 Reinforcing Opinion 77 Chapter 6 Exploiting Existing Opinion 107 Chapter 7 Cross-Pressuring Opinion 138 Chapter 8 Reaching the Base 160 Chapter 9 Exploiting Partisans in Congress 183 PART III CONCLUSION Chapter 10 Leadership, Opportunity, and Strategic Assessments 203 Notes 215 Index 255

"Edwards' central findings on the limits of presidential persuasion are in my view some of the most important in the literature of American politics. . . . Predicting the Presidency should be widely read."---Paul J. Quirk, Congress & the Presidency