Answer:
Were usually closely contested affairs
Explanation:
The political scenario was notable in that despite a certain level of corruption, turnout was very high and national elections saw two evenly matched parties (Republican and Democratic). The dominant issues were cultural (i.e prohibition, education, and ethnic or racial groups) and economic (tariffs and money supply).
I believe the US left Japan alone, unlike Hawaii, because of the havoc it would have caused. Which would have ruined their invasion. Also, the objective was to avoid Soviet influence in Japan.