“…Although a vast literature on group lobbying and how it influences the voting patterns of members of Congress and state legislators has existed for decades (Achen, 1977;Dexter, 1969;Erikson, 1978;Hansen, 1991;Rubin, 1981, 1982;Kingdon, 1989;McCrone and Kuklinski, 1979;Miller and Stokes, 1963;Wright, 1985), only recently has some attention been given to understanding how these groups' activities affect political parties. Most of this scholarly work has centered on the direct effect interest groups or social movements have on party candidates and fortunes at the polls (Bednar and Hertzke, 1995;Gilbert, 1995;Green, 1995Green, , 2001Green et al, 1993;Guth, 1995;Moen, 1996;Nesmith, 1995;Rozell and Wilcox, 1999;Wilcox et al, 1995; but see Bositis, 1988, 1993;Green et al, 1998a;Oldfield, 1996;Schwartz, 1990Schwartz, , 1994. As such, little is known about the general linkages between parties and organized groups (Beck, 1974;Coleman, 1996;Frendreis et al, 1996), and the strategies specific organizations such as labor, abortion groups, the National Rifle Association (NRA), and the religious right use to influence political parties.…”