Chapter 10: Elections & Campaigns

Campaigns, Then & Now Campaign Tasks Media Consultants create advertisements and buy airtime. Direct Mail Firms design and produce mailings to promote the candidate or solicit money.

Campaigns, Then & Now Campaign Tasks Polling Firms survey voters on their attitudes toward issues and candidates as well as run focus groups. Political Technology Firms supply services such as web site design, online advertising, online fund-raising, and voter targeting.

Campaigns, Then & Now Technology Experts do not know whether televised political ads influence election outcomes. Micro-targeting is the study of consumer consumption and recreational habits to build a data base on potential supporters.

Campaigns, Then & Now Critical Process Getting nominated. Getting elected.

Presidential versus Congressional Campaigns Terminology Incumbent is the person already holding an elective office. Coattails is the tendency of candidates to win more votes in an election because of the presence at the top of the ticket of a better- known candidate, such as the president.

Presidential versus Congressional Campaigns Running for President PACs can be formed by a corporation, labor union, or other special interest group and can give up to $5K. Incumbents must defend their records.

Presidential versus Congressional Campaigns Getting Elected to Congress Since 1962, over 90% of House incumbents who sought reelection won.

Presidential versus Congressional Campaigns Getting Elected to Congress Districting Malapportionment is when a district is drawn so that the population is unequal when compared to other districts.

Presidential versus Congressional Campaigns Getting Elected to Congress Districting Gerrymandering This occurs when a district is drawn to make it easier for a party to win. This was originally done to allow minorities a greater chance of representation. Districts end up in bizarre shapes.

Presidential versus Congressional Campaigns Getting Elected to Congress Process In 1911, Congress fixed the House’s size at 435 members. Reapportionment is conducted every 10 years. In 1964, the Supreme Court rule that districts can be drawn to make one person’s vote count as much as another.

Presidential versus Congressional Campaigns Getting Elected to Congress Winning the Primary The sophomore surge occurs when newly elected members become very strong quickly. Congress members use their office to run personal campaigns as opposed to party campaigns.

Presidential versus Congressional Campaigns Getting Elected to Congress Staying in Office Delegate does what his constituents want. Trustee uses his best judgment without the regard for his constituents.

Primary versus General Campaigns Process To get activist support, candidates move to ideological extremes. To win the general election, candidates move to the ideological center.

Primary versus General Campaigns Campaign Issues Position Issue occur when rival candidates have opposing views. Valence Issues occur when the public is united about an issue and the candidate adopts the policy in the hope that they will be linked with it.

Primary versus General Campaigns Television Spots are short television ads. Visuals are news broadcasts of campaign activities.

Primary versus General Campaigns How Things Work General Election occurs when the public will determine which candidate will hold a given office. Primary Election is an election to choose candidates for office.

Primary versus General Campaigns How Things Work Closed Primary is a primary election where voting is limited to registered party members. Open Primary is when voters must choose which party they vote for.

Primary versus General Campaigns How Things Work Blanket Primary (aka “Free Love Primary”) lists all of the candidates for both parties. Runoff Primary occurs when no candidate gets a majority of the votes.

Primary versus General Campaigns Sources of Campaign Money Presidential Private donors. Federal government. Congressional Candidates get all of the funds from private sources.

Primary versus General Campaigns Finance Rules The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) of 1971 Provisions Limited donations. Limited personal expenditures. Created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to oversee campaign financing. Buckley v. Valeo (1976) struck down the limitations as a violation of Free Speech.

Primary versus General Campaigns Finance Rules Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002/McCain-Feingold Law “Soft money” could only be contributed by PACs. Individual contributions were limited to $2000 per candidate per election. Independent expenditures were restricted and highly regulated.

Primary versus General Campaigns Finance Rules Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002/McCain-Feingold Law McConnell v. Federal Election Commission It upheld the restrictions with one exception. PACs promoting “Issue Advocacy” did not have the contributions limited since it was protect by free speech.

Primary versus General Campaigns Finance Rules 527 Organizations raise money to advance political causes. In congressional races, money does make a decisive difference.

What Decides the Election? Party Democratic voters have more defections. Republicans They do much better among “independent” voters. Republicans have a higher percentage of participation in voting when compared to the Democrats. Independent Party of New York

What Decides the Election? Voting Types Prospective Voting occurs when you favor the ideas of a candidate or how he proposes to handle an issue. Retrospective Issue when you base your voting behavior after a candidates past actions. Proximity is the concept of the candidate’s beliefs mirroring the voter’s beliefs.

What Decides the Election? The Campaign They typically reawaken partisan loyalties. Allow the constituents to see how the candidates handle pressure. Expose the candidate’s core values.

What Decides the Election? Winning Coalitions Democratic Coalition African-Americans are the most loyal voters. Jewish Hispanic

What Decides the Election? Winning Coalitions Republican Party Business Professionals