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with more support groups are not only likely to be part of the ruling party, but also have
more seniority under the old electoral system and campaign finance regime. In addition,
there should be strong correlation between multiple support groups and district-level
expenditures, especially given the high costs associated with their year-round
maintenance (Curtis 1971).
5. District Characteristics
Besides candidate characteristics, scholars of Japanese politics often analyze the
vote-gathering strategies of politicians and parties in terms of the demographics of the
district. In the case of the LDP, the ability of individual members to secure their election
and re-election was often attributed to their ability to funnel central revenues to rural
areas, where cultivating a personal vote could reach staggering sums (Thayer 1969;
Calder 1988; Curtis 1999). Central to this debate is to what extent the district is urban or
rural. Scholars suggest that LDP members develop a strong personal vote in agricultural
districts and less in urban areas or districts that are densely inhabited (Cox and Thies
1998).
As well as the demographics of the district, I control for other district factors
related to the competitiveness of the race. The level of competition between the parties’
candidates should shape how much candidates are willing and able to spend. As
Schlesinger (1985) argues, the greater the competition for seats, the more parties and
candidates are likely to focus on their electoral survival. In competitive districts, I expect
that large vote shares will be difficult to secure. Likewise, candidates may need to spend
greater sums of funds to avoid defeat by their competitors. However, not all districts in
Convention