Interactive Notes: How were candidates chosen in the past?

Timeline I. Announcement Evaluate chances of winning Exploratory Committees filing with the FEC Timeframe: 2012 election has started already.

2008 Election – Who were the Republican choices? Rudy Giuliani – Former mayor of New York City John McCain – US Senator - Arizona Ron Paul-Congressman-Texas Mike Huckabee – former Governor - Arkansas Mitt Romney – Massachusetts Governor Sam Brownback – US Senator - Kansas Duncan Hunter-Congressman-California Fred Thompson-former Senator-Tennessee Tom Tancredo-Congressmen-Colorado

2008 Election – Who will be our Democrat choices? Hillary Rodham Clinton – US Senate – New YorkHillary Rodham Clinton – US Senate – New York Barack Obama – US Senate – IllinoisBarack Obama – US Senate – Illinois John Edwards – Former North Carolina SenatorJohn Edwards – Former North Carolina Senator Joe Biden – US Senate - DelawareJoe Biden – US Senate - Delaware Bill Richardson – Governor of New MexicoBill Richardson – Governor of New Mexico Dennis Kucinch-Congressman-OhioDennis Kucinch-Congressman-Ohio Mike Gravel-former US Senator-AlaskaMike Gravel-former US Senator-Alaska Chris Dodd-US Senate-ConnecticutChris Dodd-US Senate-Connecticut

2012 For Democrats – It’s easy….. Barack Obama……………. Republicans – They still have to decide… and there are a lot of choices…..

Michelle Bachman – US Rep from Minnesota Buddy Roemer – Former Gov of Louisiana Rick Perry – Current Governor of Texas Rick Santorum – Former US Senator from Penn. Andy Martin Mitt Romney – Former Gov from Mass. Jimmy McMillan Thaddeus McCotter – US Rep from Michigan John Huntsman Former Gov of Utah & Ambassador To China Fred Karger – Political Consultant and Gay Rights Activist Ron Paul – US Rep from Texas Vern Wuensche Businessman Herman Cain Businessman, Politician & Media Newt Gingrich Former Speaker of the House Gary Johnson Former Gov of New Mexico Tom Miller – Career Flight Attendant

How is it done in Texas? National Convention State Convention County Convention Precinct Convention Primary (Election)

II. Primaries – (Jan – June) of election year. Candidate selection process by narrowing the field of candidates within a party. States may use aStates may use a primary, a caucus or some combination. States conduct federal elections because of FEDERALISM! primary, a caucus or some combination. States conduct federal elections because of FEDERALISM!

What is the difference in a primary and a caucus? Primary-election between 2 or more candidates of the same party Caucus-town hall type meeting where party candidates are chosen

1968 Democratic National Convention Photo from npr.org McGovern-Fraser Commission

Designed to make delegate selection process in the Democratic Party “open, timely, and representative.” Major changes Delegates chosen through primary or caucus open to all Democrats in state. Delegates are not “winner-take-all.” (Not necessarily true for Republicans). Delegates became more representative (i.e. more women and minorities). Drawbacks? Some argue newer candidates are less “electable.” Less effective politicians (Jimmy Carter as the example). Changed the drama of conventions While McGovern-Fraser specifically dealt with Democratic party, most of the changes were later adopted by Republicans.

Open Primary Closed Primary Problems? Advantages? Types of Primaries

The increase in primaries

The primary and caucus system Key Events: Iowa caucuses New Hampshire Primary Super Tuesday Frontloading: holding primaries early to try to capture attention and $ for your state Who are superdelegates?

III. National Convention Purpose: -To nominate the presidential and vice presidential nominees for the party -To approve the party platform Facts: - Each party holds a separate convention towards the end of the summer

Party Platforms 2008 Platform Activity – we’ll come back to this

- the individual with the majority of delegate votes becomes the presidential nominee - the nominee now runs against the other party’s nominee IV. Campaign (Labor day – November) - Democrat v. Republican - Incumbents (advantage or disadvantage) ?

V. General Election Election Day First Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even numbered years Next election – 2012 We will vote for many different offices at all levels of government.

Australian Ballot Characteristics 1. secret 2. Uniform 3. printed at government expense 4. includes all candidates and issues

Electing a President Popular Vote - The vote of the people, this is important but will NOT determine who wins.Popular Vote - The vote of the people, this is important but will NOT determine who wins. Voters have a choice of Republican and Democrat Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees.Voters have a choice of Republican and Democrat Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees.

Electoral College Electoral vote - the vote that actually elects the President # of votes a state receives = # of votes a state receives = House of Representatives + Senate = electors

Winner Take All System Whoever wins the popular vote gets all 38 electoral votes. 38 Republican 38 Democrat Electors Electors Electors Electors

Size of Electoral college 435 House of Representatives 100 Senators 3 Washington DC ( 23rd Amendment) 3 Washington DC ( 23rd Amendment)_____ 538 Total # of electors 538 Total # of electors

# needed to become President Simple majority of 538 = 270

DANGER A candidate may win the popular vote, yet lose the election…. HOW? …. A candidate may win the popular vote, yet lose the election…. HOW?

Popular Vote vs. Electoral Vote STATESPOPULAR VOTE ELECTORAL VOTE Florida 2,912,790 Bush 2,912,253 Gore 25 Iowa 634,373 Bush 638,517 Gore 7 New Mexico 286,417 Bush 286,783 Gore 5 Oregon 713,577 Bush 720,342 Gore 7 Total 4,547,157 Bush 4,557,895 Gore Bush 25 Gore 19

DANGER – Has it happened? YES – it has….YES – it has… Tilden v. Hayes –1876 Tilden v. Hayes – Tilden had more popular votes Cleveland v. Harrison - Cleveland had more popular votes.1888 Cleveland v. Harrison - Cleveland had more popular votes Gore v. Bush – Gore had more2000 Gore v. Bush – Gore had more popular votes. popular votes.

What if no one receives a majority? House of Representatives will choose the new President – each state gets one vote. Senate will choose the new Vice President – each Senator has a vote.

Red and Blue States

Purple States

Swing States

Debating the E.C. Arguments against 1.Can win the popular vote and lose the election. 2.Certain states get ignored. 3.Biased towards small states, violates 1 person 1 vote. 4.Biased against third parties. 5.Faithless electors Arguments in favor 1. Imagine Florida in 2000, times Prevents candidates from running up votes in one area of the country. 3. Protects the power of the states in a federal system.

Current Limits on Voting CitizenshipCitizenship Residence – varies by state (10-30 days)Residence – varies by state (10-30 days) Age – 18 yrs oldAge – 18 yrs old RegistrationRegistration Mental Institution patients cannot voteMental Institution patients cannot vote People convicted of felonies are not allowed to votePeople convicted of felonies are not allowed to vote

Understanding primaries Most state parties felt primaries were easiest way to implement McGovern-Fraser provisions. In 2004, 35 states had primaries and 15 had caucuses. Primaries are elections between candidates of the same party, vying for a party’s nomination in the general election. In Democratic presidential primaries, any candidate who gets 15% of the vote or more gets proportionate share of delegates per district. Republicans in each state can choose proportional or winner-take-all. Democratic Party v LaFollette(1982): mandatory primaries are unconstitutional Open and Closed primaries