David Barker is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh. Prof. Barker has published several articles on talk radio in the Journal of Politics, Social Science Quarterly, and Political Communication.

• List of Figures List of Tables Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. Political Talk Radio and Its Most Prominent Practitioner 3. Toward a Value Heresthetic Model of Political Persuasion 4. Talk Radio, Public Opinion, and Vote Choice: The "Limbaugh Effect," 1994-96 5. Talk Radio, Opinion Leadership, and Presidential Nominations: Evidence from the 2 Republican Primary Battles 6. The Talk Radio Community: Nontraditional Social Networks and Political Participation 7. Information, Misinformation, and Political Talk Radio 8. Conclusion Appendix A. The Limbaugh Message Appendix B. Excerpts from the Rhetoric Stimulus Appendix C. Excerpts from the Value Heresthetic Stimulus Notes References Index

[A] welcome addition to the growing shelf of scholarly works on radio broadcasting... well documented... offers useful research paths for others to follow. -- Christopher H. Sterling Journalism and Mass Communication Educator [An] important and quite ground-breaking study of American conservative call-in talk radio. -- Bridget Griffin-Foley Australasian Journal of American Studies the volume is useful not only for those who study media effects, but also for those who work in the area of political persuasion. -- David C. Barker Public Opinion Quarterly The volume exemplifies both rigorous and creative sciences. It is appropriate for many political communication and behavior university classes. -- C. Richard Hofstetter Political Communication