Campaign Strategies
Campaign strategies Try to get a one up on other candidate(s) Make their weaknesses known Paint them in unfavorable light Promote your own image
Party Platforms Lets people know what your party stands for Not always the view of the candidate Sometimes mixed with candidates views
Democratic Party Platform Pro Choice Marriage equality Transgender rights Limits on Gun ownership Expand Health Care Expand schools system and college tuition free $15 Minimum Wage Paid family leave Criminal justice reform guest worker programs Decrease military budget Increase Safety Net
Republican Party Platform Pro Life Marriage between man and a woman Deny Transgender individuals right to bathroom of identity No gun control Repeal Obamacare and institute vouchers Vouchers for private schools k-12 Free market determines minimum wage Climate change is just planetary cycle Tougher on immigration Expand military budget
Platform and campaign Candidates stick to their platform Only campaign on most popular parts of platform Try to deter with what is not popular opinion
The Mommy, Daddy Problem Democrats (Mommy) Republicans (Daddy) Health Education Social Security/ Medicare Economy High Tech Military Foreign Policy DOD (department of defense) Terrorism Immigration
The Mommy, Daddy Problem Everything that does not fall in either box is trivial Trivial can land in either parties court depending on public opinion Ex: energy, privacy, monetary, transportation, housing
Typical vs actual on Military Republicans known for being strong militarily Democrats known for not wanting to get involved in conflicts Reality: Republicans want a big military but don’t want to send it anywhere Democrats want a very small military but want to send it everywhere
What ideals both candidates try to take up Helping hand to Working class voters Try to look like helping middle class Want to create jobs Will help economy
Republicans Claim conservative economically Cut spending, cut taxes Will bring back “Classic American Values” take us back to “good ol days” Not taking away freedom Unburden economy with regulation
Democrats Claim to help all people Will tax rich, cut taxes to poor Will progress us into the future Equality to all, and help those less fortunate achieve American Dream Energy Independence Protect consumers from corporations
Republican Coalition Religious (the more religious the group the more likely to support) Low educated Rural poor Very rich White men Gun owners Elderly
Democratic Coalition Young Women Religious Minorities Racial Minorities Urban Poor LGBT+ Union Labor
Most sought After Suburban voters Middle Class Americans White collar and Blue collar white male workers
Dems try to portray Reps as: Only working for rich Caring about corporations and not people Subservient to gun lobby Wanting to take away rights
Reps try to portray Dems as Giving free handout to those who don’t deserve it Giving amnesty to illegals Subservient to Unions Socialists
Turnout is Everything If candidate or party platform don’t excite voters the wont go vote Does not matter if you win middle groups if your base stays home