Nominating Conventions An assembly held by political parties every four years Usually held in late summer before the general election in November George W. and Laura Bush at the 2000 Republican Convention

Purposes of Nominating Conventions 1980 Republican National Convention in Detroit, Michigan 1.Delegates at the convention adopt a party platform. 2.Delegates to the convention elect that party’s nominees for President and Vice-president.

What’s a Party Platform? Party Platform - a statement of principles and objectives a political party and a candidate supports. Plank - Individual topics in a party ’ s platform (ex: abortion, war in Iraq) Cartoon satirizing the 1896 Democratic Party Platform

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By Paresh Nath, National Herald, New Delhi, India 3/17/08

Convention Speeches: The Acceptance Address  The speech given at the final day of the convention in which the winning candidate formally accepts the party ’ s nomination for president  The Acceptance Address is always televised by the major networks 1960 presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon deliver their Acceptance Addresses at their party’s national convention

Critics say that party nominating conventions have become no more than infomercials and “beauty contests.” 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, CO What do you think?

Caucuses explained: Primaries explained: mfu Critics say that party nominating conventions have become no more than infomercials and “beauty contests.”

Presidential Nominating Contests Who controls how nominating contests are designed? How are nomination contests like the Electoral College? What is the difference between caucus and primary election systems? Which of the two is more prevalent? Has it always been that way? elections/videos#primaries-caucuses-and-conventions elections/videos#primaries-caucuses-and-conventions

Presidential Nominating Contests What are “open,” and “closed” primaries? How might they lead to ideologically different candidates?

Presidential Nominating Contests What was the purpose of the McGovern- Fraser reforms in the Democratic Party? What are Superdelegates? How do they reverse some of the McGovern-Fraser reforms? 8tOo&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list =PLC850874C59C3CD13 8tOo&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list =PLC850874C59C3CD13

Presidential Nominating Contests Describe voter turnout rates during presidential caucuses and primaries. How do they compare to general election turnouts? (Also examine “Historical Presidential Primary Turnout, ”)

The Race to Be First Examine “2008 Presidential Primary & Caucus Dates” – What states are first? – What is Super Tuesday? – How many states hold contests after Super Tuesday? – What factors might lead to a candidate’s success in this system?

The Race to Be First Impact of “front-loading” and closely- spaced nomination contests? – Candidates with lots of money (esp. to pay for Super Tuesday campaigning) do well early on and quickly pull away from less well-known candidates. – Compact schedule, with little time for public deliberation before a front-runner is identified and picks up momentum.

The Race to Be First Impact of “front-loading” and closely- spaced nomination contests? – Winners of early contests gain momentum that is hard to overcome. – Low voter turnout in later contests.

The Race to Be First Impact of “front-loading” and closely- spaced nomination contests? – States with later contests get ignored by candidates. – States with important early contests (Iowa and New Hampshire) are smaller, more rural, more white than most larger states.

The Race to Be First Impact of “front-loading” and closely- spaced nomination contests? – Candidates must start campaigning many months before the first contests, leading to a long campaign season. What impact might this have on governance? – Media coverage is low after Super Tuesday.

The Race to Be First

Examine the data in the “Presidential Nomination Contests: Some More Data.” Based on this data, what challenges arise as a result of the ways that presidential nomination contests are scheduled today? Is this good or bad for democracy? Why?