1. Influence on Voter Choice Elections & Campaigns Unit

2. Necessity to Balance Position You must be conservative or liberal enough to be nominated You must be conservative or liberal enough to be nominated As the campaign unfolds candidates often move to the center in order to win As the campaign unfolds candidates often move to the center in order to win As the campaign unfolds candidates often move to the center in order to win As the campaign unfolds candidates often move to the center in order to win Contradictions can alienate voters- must “stay the course” and “stick to your guns” Contradictions can alienate voters- must “stay the course” and “stick to your guns”

3. Sticky Situations- Positional Issues During campaign rival candidates may have opposite views, voters divide, and may cause party realignment. During campaign rival candidates may have opposite views, voters divide, and may cause party realignment. Positional Issues in 2012 Positional Issues in 2012 Economy Economy Health Care Health Care Deficit Deficit Abortion Abortion Welfare Welfare

4. Position Issues 2012 The economy The economy Obama/Biden Obama/Biden Focus on government creating the right environment for businesses to succeed Focus on government creating the right environment for businesses to succeed Ex: Green energy Ex: Green energy Romney/Ryan Romney/Ryan Focus on deregulation of private sector to allow for more innovation and private investment Focus on deregulation of private sector to allow for more innovation and private investment Ex: Bain Capital Ex: Bain Capital

5. Positional Issues 2012 Health Care Health Care Obama/Biden Obama/Biden Affordable Care Act Affordable Care Act Provides for universal health care and a mandate that those who can afford insurance must purchase it Provides for universal health care and a mandate that those who can afford insurance must purchase it Businesses with 50+ employees are forced to offer health insurance Businesses with 50+ employees are forced to offer health insurance Romney/Ryan Romney/Ryan Privatized System Privatized System Gives seniors cash to help them purchase insurance from private companies Gives seniors cash to help them purchase insurance from private companies Amount of voucher increases with inflation Amount of voucher increases with inflation

6. Positional Issues in 2012 Deficit Deficit Obama/Biden Obama/Biden Close loop holes for corporations that find ways to avoid paying taxes Close loop holes for corporations that find ways to avoid paying taxes Let current tax breaks on people making over $250,000 per year expire Let current tax breaks on people making over $250,000 per year expire Romney/Ryan Romney/Ryan Close loop holes for corporations that find ways to avoid paying taxes Close loop holes for corporations that find ways to avoid paying taxes Cut taxes by 20% on ALL citizens to infuse more cash into the economy and increase demand, spurring business Cut taxes by 20% on ALL citizens to infuse more cash into the economy and increase demand, spurring business

7. Positional Issues 2012 Abortion (Roe v. Wade) Abortion (Roe v. Wade) Obama/Biden Obama/Biden Pro-choice Pro-choice Romney/Ryan Romney/Ryan Pro-Life Pro-Life

8. Positional Issues 2012 Welfare Welfare Obama/Biden Obama/Biden Supportive of social welfare programs Supportive of social welfare programs Romney/Ryan Romney/Ryan Believe social welfare programs need reform Believe social welfare programs need reform Restore Welfare to Work requirement Restore Welfare to Work requirement

9. Valence Issues An issue that is uniformly liked or disliked among the electorate An issue that is uniformly liked or disliked among the electorate Examples: tough on crime, improve education Examples: tough on crime, improve education Any others? Any others?