In addition to the decline in competition, American politics today is characterized by a growing ideological polarization between the two major political parties.

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• Thomas E. Mann:

  A healthy degree of party unity among Democrats and Republicans has deteriorated into bitter partis

• Thomas E. Mann:

  With the parties at virtual parity and the ideological gulf between them never greater, the stakes

• Thomas E. Mann:

  Further-more, partisan attachments powerfully shape political perceptions, beliefs and values, and

• Thomas E. Mann:

  Congress requires states to draw single-member districts.

• Thomas E. Mann:

  The public's evaluation of the job George W. Bush is doing as president changed dramatically as a r

• Thomas E. Mann:

  But presidential approval also became a surrogate measure of national unity and patriotism.

• Thomas E. Mann:

  First, his job approval ratings have been trending down for many months, a trend that has accelerat

• Thomas E. Mann:

  While Republican voters have remained universally supportive of their President, Democrats and Inde

• Thomas E. Mann:

  Second, the President's popularity has not translated into increased support for the Republican par

• Thomas E. Mann:

  All of this suggests that while citizens became more comfortable with President Bush after Septembe