Chapter 9 Nominations and Campaigns

The Nomination Game: Deciding to Run Nomination game is an elimination contest Nomination game is an elimination contest Goal is to win a majority of delegates’ support at the national party convention Goal is to win a majority of delegates’ support at the national party convention The convention meets every four years to nominate the party’s presidential and The convention meets every four years to nominate the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Conventions are but a formality today. Conventions are but a formality today.

The Caucus Road The Caucus Road Caucus- meetings of state party leaders for selecting Caucus- meetings of state party leaders for selecting delegates to the national convention delegates to the national convention Organized like a pyramid from local precincts to the state’s convention Organized like a pyramid from local precincts to the state’s convention A handful of states use a caucus—open to all voters who are registered with a party A handful of states use a caucus—open to all voters who are registered with a party The Iowa caucus is first and most important; success in Iowa builds momentum st=PLDECA1420CCEF93FD The Iowa caucus is first and most important; success in Iowa builds momentum st=PLDECA1420CCEF93FD st=PLDECA1420CCEF93FD st=PLDECA1420CCEF93FD The Nomination Game: Competing for Delegates

The Primary Road The Primary Road Primary: elections in which voters in a state vote for a nominee (or delegates pledged to the nominee) Primary: elections in which voters in a state vote for a nominee (or delegates pledged to the nominee) McGovern-Fraser Commission led to selection of delegates through primary elections McGovern-Fraser Commission led to selection of delegates through primary elections Most delegates are chosen through primaries. Most delegates are chosen through primaries. Superdelegates: democratic leaders who automatically get a delegate slot Superdelegates: democratic leaders who automatically get a delegate slot (Congress, governors, national committee members, party leaders) (Congress, governors, national committee members, party leaders) Superdelgates

The Nomination Game: Competing for Delegates The Primary Road cont. The Primary Road cont. Frontloading is the tendency of states to hold primaries early to capitalize on media attention. New Hampshire is first. Frontloading is the tendency of states to hold primaries early to capitalize on media attention. New Hampshire is first. Generally primaries serve as elimination contests. Generally primaries serve as elimination contests. Super Tuesday- refers to the Tuesday in February or March of a presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections to select delegates to the national convention Super Tuesday- refers to the Tuesday in February or March of a presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections to select delegates to the national convention (In 2008, 24 states held primaries/caucuses on Super Tuesday; in 2012, 10 states held primaries)

Delegates needed to win the Party’s Nomination for President Democratic Party- must win a simple majority out of 4,047 delegates (3,253 pledged delegates superdelegates) Democratic Party- must win a simple majority out of 4,047 delegates (3,253 pledged delegates superdelegates) Republican Party- must win a simple majority out of 2,286 delegates (have pledged and unpledged delegates) Republican Party- must win a simple majority out of 2,286 delegates (have pledged and unpledged delegates)

The Nomination Game: The National Convention The Convention Send-off The Convention Send-off National conventions once provided great drama, but now are a formality, which means less TV time. National conventions once provided great drama, but now are a formality, which means less TV time. Significant rallying point for parties Significant rallying point for parties Key note speaker on first day of Convention Key note speaker on first day of Convention Party platform: statement of a party’s goals and policies for next four years Party platform: statement of a party’s goals and policies for next four years Debated on the second day of the Convention Debated on the second day of the Convention Formal nomination of president and vice-president candidates on third and fourth days Formal nomination of president and vice-president candidates on third and fourth days

The Campaign Game Organizing the Campaign Organizing the Campaign Get a campaign manager Get a campaign manager Get a fund-raiser and campaign counsel Get a fund-raiser and campaign counsel Hire media and campaign consultants Hire media and campaign consultants Assemble staff and plan logistics Assemble staff and plan logistics Get research staff, policy advisors, and pollsters Get research staff, policy advisors, and pollsters Get a good press secretary Get a good press secretary Establish a website Establish a website

The Campaign Game The High-Tech Media Campaign The High-Tech Media Campaign Direct mail used to generate support and money for the candidate Direct mail used to generate support and money for the candidate Get media attention through ad budget and “free” coverage Get media attention through ad budget and “free” coverage Emphasis on “marketing” a candidate Emphasis on “marketing” a candidate News stories focus more on the “horse race” than substantive policy issues News stories focus more on the “horse race” than substantive policy issues

Campaigns Cost MONEY Total Spending by Presidential Candidates Total Spending by Presidential Candidates $1, outside spending $1,287.1 B 2012 $1, outside spending $1,287.1 B 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court Case 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court Case 2008 $1,324.7 B 2004 $717.9 M 2008 $1,324.7 B 2004 $717.9 M 2000 $343.1 M 2000 $343.1 M 1996 $239.9 M 1992 $192.2 M 1996 $239.9 M 1992 $192.2 M 1988 $210.7 M 1988 $210.7 M 1984 $103.6 M 1984 $103.6 M 1980 $92.3 M 1976 $66.9 M 1980 $92.3 M 1976 $66.9 M (Data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics) (Data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics)

Campaign Spending Candidates need money to: achieve name recognition achieve name recognition ex: commercials, posters, mail, etc. get out their message get out their message combat negative ads being run by their opponent combat negative ads being run by their opponent pay for campaign staff pay for campaign staff educate the electorate educate the electorate

Money and Campaigning The Proliferation of PACs The Proliferation of PACs Political Action Committees (PACs): created by law in 1974 to allow corporations, labor unions and other interest groups to donate money to campaigns; PACs are registered with and monitored by the FEC. Political Action Committees (PACs): created by law in 1974 to allow corporations, labor unions and other interest groups to donate money to campaigns; PACs are registered with and monitored by the FEC. PACs donate to candidates who support their issue. PACs donate to candidates who support their issue. PACs do not “buy” candidates, but give to candidates who support them in the first place. PACs do not “buy” candidates, but give to candidates who support them in the first place. Super PAC’s

Money and Campaigning The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms Hard Money: $ contributed directly to a candidate of a political party. It is regulated by law in both source and amount, and monitored by the Federal Election Commission. Hard Money: $ contributed directly to a candidate of a political party. It is regulated by law in both source and amount, and monitored by the Federal Election Commission. Soft Money: political contributions (not subject to contribution limits) earmarked for party-building expenses or generic party advertising Soft Money: political contributions (not subject to contribution limits) earmarked for party-building expenses or generic party advertising 527s: independent groups that seek to influence political process but are not subject to contribution restricts because they do not directly seek election of particular candidates 527s: independent groups that seek to influence political process but are not subject to contribution restricts because they do not directly seek election of particular candidates

Campaign Donors Individuals Individuals Political Parties Political Parties Interest groups Interest groups For example: AARP, AFL/CIO, The Christian Coalition, Green Peace, NAACP, NRA, U.S Chamber of Commerce PAC’s PAC’s 527 groups 527 groups 501C groups-tax exempt non-profit suppose to be non-political; don’t have to divulge contributions or donors 501C groups-tax exempt non-profit suppose to be non-political; don’t have to divulge contributions or donors

Campaign Finance Reforms The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms Federal Election Campaign Act (1974) Federal Election Campaign Act (1974) Created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to administer campaign finance laws for federal elections Created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to administer campaign finance laws for federal elections Created the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Created the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Provided partial public financing for presidential primaries Provided partial public financing for presidential primaries Matching funds: Contributions of up to $250 are matched for candidates who meet conditions, such as limiting spending. Matching funds: Contributions of up to $250 are matched for candidates who meet conditions, such as limiting spending. Provided full public financing for major party candidates in the general election Provided full public financing for major party candidates in the general election Required full disclosure and limited contributions Required full disclosure and limited contributions

Supreme Court Cases: Campaign Finance Reforms Buckley v. Valeo, (1976) a Supreme Court case that upheld a federal law which set limits on campaign contributions, but ruled that spending money to influence elections is a form of constitutionally protected free speech The court also stated candidates can give unlimited amounts of money to their own campaigns. Citizens United, (2010) Supreme Court ruled corporate funding of Supreme Court ruled corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited under the 1 st amendment

Campaign Contributions Limits