Competitive elections share many similarities with national sports contests. When Casey is at the bat, the Mudville slugger must choose the tactic he thinks will produce the most runs: “let drive a single” like his teammate Flynn, or instead “tear the cover of the ball” like his other mate, Blake. When they advance to the bat, presidents like mighty batsmen must choose the political lumber that yield the most votes. But, how do they ensure joy in Mudville? By swinging for the political fences, or by tapping a targeted single?

Let us begin with a brief foray into U.S. politics. In the prelude to the 1960 presidential elections, Dwight D. Eisenhower expoused the virtues of a balanced federal budget and inflation protection, following a disciplined economic strategy throughout the election year. However, this “small-ball” economic strategy never took hold among the Republican establishment. For example, in his political memoirs, Vice President Richard M. Nixon blamed Eisenhower's “inside the park” thinking for his electoral loss to John F. Kennedy. He clearly believed that electorates rewarded economic booms and punished economic dips.