FUSION BALLOTS AND THE QUESTION OF ORGANISATIONAL TYPE

The differences between political parties and interest groups are well-defined. However, how do minor parties that rely on fusion, or the cross-nomination of candidates from other parties, view themselves? To study this, I conducted interviews with prominent party officials in three minor parties in the state of New York, where fusion politics is the norm. The evidence suggests that minor-party officials develop partisan attachments and view success as being based primarily on winning office.