The book offers a comprehensive analysis of public opinion toward presidential candidate
spouses over the course of three decades drawing on multiple theoretical frameworks including
the concept of new traditionalism and a plethora of empirical data to explore why some spouses
engender greater support than others-and what these reactions reveal about the American public
and the gendered nature of the American presidency. Recognizing that presidential candidate
spouses are important but understudied political actors this book provides extensive analysis
of public evaluations of Bill Clinton and Melania Trump during the 2016 presidential election
as well as the presidential candidate spouses in the 1992 and 2012 elections and places public
reaction to these individuals in historical context. The book considers important trends in
U.S. elections including party polarization from the distinctive vantage points of candidate
spouses and explores the symbolic importance of historic firsts including the first African
American candidate spouse and the first male candidate spouse. No other work provides a
systematic exploration of public opinion towards candidate spouses as distinct political
entities across the modern political era.
