Selecting a President: Primaries & Caucuses

Presidential Selection Stage 1: Caucuses & Primaries The Battle for the Party Faithful Stage 2: Nominating Conventions “Glorified Infomercials?” Stage 3: General Election The Fight for the Center Stage 4: Electoral College Power to the People?

Stage 1: Caucuses Closed meeting of party members in each state Barrack Obama campaigns in Iowa Closed meeting of party members in each state Delegates select the party’s choice for presidential candidate Currently, six states, including Nevada in 2008, offer party caucuses selecting presidential nominees.

Stage 1: Caucuses Questions for Discussion: Hilary Clinton (D) and Republican nominees at a debate Questions for Discussion: The Iowa Caucus is on February 6, 2011. Why is it so important? Florida has just moved up its presidential primary to January 31, 2012. What are the implication of this move? Brainstorm pros and cons to the caucus format.

Stage 1: Primaries Presidential Primary Elections - special elections in which voters select candidates to be the party’s nominee for president in the general election. Primary Season - January - June Who Decides? - State party organizations for the most part decide the rules for the primaries in a particular state. Types of Primaries: Closed Primaries Open Primaries Mitt Romney campaigning in New Hampshire

Closed Primary Voters may vote in a party's primary only if they are registered members of that party

Open Primary A registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his or her own party affiliation.

Methods of Selecting Presidential Delegates by State

2008 Open & Closed Primaries

Map of 2008 Primary & Caucus Dates