The Election Process Ch. 7

Why do people run for political office? “To run for president, a person needs a ‘fire in the belly.’ For four years, that’s all I did. I mean, all I did. That’s all you think about. That’s all you think about…That’s your leisure. That’s your luxury…I told someone, ‘The question is not whether I can get elected. The question is whether I can be elected and not be nuts when I get there.” “To run for president, a person needs a ‘fire in the belly.’ For four years, that’s all I did. I mean, all I did. That’s all you think about. That’s all you think about…That’s your leisure. That’s your luxury…I told someone, ‘The question is not whether I can get elected. The question is whether I can be elected and not be nuts when I get there.” Walter Mondale, former Senator and VP Democratic Presidential candidate.

Why do people run for office? Like the political process Like the political process

Why do people run for office? Day to day Day to day combat & debate combat & debate

Why do people run for office? –CIVIC DUTY

Why do people run for office? For fun! For fun!

Presidential Race… –It’s a two-year process now! YAWN? YAWN? OR OR POLITICAL JUNKIE FIX? FIX?

Announcement Summer 2006, (2-1/2 years before the actual election,) they were already in Iowa and New Hampshire! Summer 2006, (2-1/2 years before the actual election,) they were already in Iowa and New Hampshire! –Exploratory Committees –Fund raising –Polling –Appearances (they all go to the Iowa State Fair!) –Announcements started coming in the fall 2 years before (2006).

Self-Announcement Independent candidates self- announce. That’s how they get their “nomination.” Independent candidates self- announce. That’s how they get their “nomination.” Ralph Nader, 2004 & 2008 Ross Perot, 1992

For & … They will have to go through a primary/caucus process to get their party’s nomination. They will have to go through a primary/caucus process to get their party’s nomination.

Straw Polls Iowa 8/13/2007 Iowa 8/13/2007 –Results for Reps. Mitt Romney 4,516 32% Mitt Romney 4,516 32% Mike Huckabee 2,587 18% Mike Huckabee 2,587 18% Sam Brownback 2,192 15% Sam Brownback 2,192 15% Tom Tancredo 1,961 14% Tom Tancredo 1,961 14% Ron Paul 1,305 9% Ron Paul 1,305 9% Tommy Thompson 1,039 7% Tommy Thompson 1,039 7% Fred Thompson 203 1% Fred Thompson 203 1% Rudy Giuliani 183 1% Rudy Giuliani 183 1% Duncan Hunter 174 1% Duncan Hunter 174 1% John McCain 101 1% John McCain 101 1% John Cox 41 0% John Cox 41 0% Total votes 14,302 Total votes 14,302 Sometimes, they bus people in from other states to vote for them!

Straw Polls Texas 9/11/2007 Texas 9/11/2007 –Results for Dems. John Edwards 3,078 38% John Edwards 3,078 38% Barak Obama 1,701 21% Barak Obama 1,701 21% Hillary Clinton 1,620 20% Hillary Clinton 1,620 20%

Delegates matter What’s a DELEGATE and why are they important to the presidential selection process? What’s a DELEGATE and why are they important to the presidential selection process?

More delegate information at CNN.com Delegate Math *number accurate as of 6/2/08 (not counting Michigan or Florida.)

What’s on your pizza? Have you ever been with a large group of people trying to order a pizza? The process usually creates a difficult situation, as individuals want very different things. Imagine your teacher has just told you that she or he is going to order a pizza for your entire class; however, your teacher presents your class with only two options for how you will go about choosing what you want on your pizza. 1. You have the choice between a pizza with cheese, pepperoni or pineapple. There is no discussion on this matter, just a simple vote. Each member of the class will cast one vote. Or, 2. You have the opportunity to discuss with your classmates what toppings you would choose for the pizzas and come to some sort of agreement on your own.

Which option would you choose, the first or second? Why? What are the advantages for each? Disadvantages?

Option 1—just voting was the Primary. Option 1—just voting was the Primary. Option 2—discussing was the Caucus. Option 2—discussing was the Caucus.

Primaries & Caucuses Narrowing the field of candidates Narrowing the field of candidates in a party down to one; who the voters would like to be that party’s nominee at the convention. in a party down to one; who the voters would like to be that party’s nominee at the convention. –Primary—like a regular election (You’re in and you’re out.) –Caucus– group of like-minded people who meet to discuss & decide who they will support in an upcoming election. Lasts all evening.

Iowa Caucus 2000=Jan =Jan =Jan =Jan =Jan =Jan. 3 –Why do they keep moving it up???

Types of Primaries OPEN: ANY qualified voter may take part. Do not have to declare a party. (only 15 states.) Dems. & Reps. can cross over. ---strategy! OPEN: ANY qualified voter may take part. Do not have to declare a party. (only 15 states.) Dems. & Reps. can cross over. ---strategy! –CLOSED: (other 35 states) Only declared party members may vote. Independents must choose between Dems & Reps.

Republicans didn’t need a Presidential primary in 2004… Why not? Just because they didn’t have a presidential primary, they may have had a primary for the other offices (Senator, House, Governor, etc.) where they was more than one person wanting to run in their party. Just because they didn’t have a presidential primary, they may have had a primary for the other offices (Senator, House, Governor, etc.) where they was more than one person wanting to run in their party.

Primaries Started earlier this year too! Started earlier this year too! New Hampshire= Feb. 8 New Hampshire= Feb Jan Jan Jan Jan. 8

The Texas 2-step Under Texas Democratic rules, they have a 2-part election process. Under Texas Democratic rules, they have a 2-part election process. –Primary (voting 7AM-7PM) –Caucuses (conducted after polls close for voting) Most of these were very overcrowded this year and some lasted into the wee-hours of the next morning! Most of these were very overcrowded this year and some lasted into the wee-hours of the next morning!

Who won the Texas 2- step in the Dem. Party? Clinton won the primary. Clinton won the primary. –Clinton 50.9% –Obama 47.4% Obama won the caucuses. Obama won the caucuses. –Obama 56.2% –Clinton 37.8%

Other states want in the game! Michigan & Florida got into trouble with the DNC for moving their dates up earlier than party rules allowed. Michigan & Florida got into trouble with the DNC for moving their dates up earlier than party rules allowed. –Michigan voted Jan. 15 –Florida voted Jan. 29 The DNC voted to strip them of their delegate seats at the National Convention in October The DNC voted to strip them of their delegate seats at the National Convention in October More on this story coming! More on this story coming!

2008 Primaries/Caucuses Jan. 3 Iowa Caucuses Jan. 3 Iowa Caucuses Jan. 8 New Hampshire Jan. 8 New Hampshire Jan. 15 Michigan Jan. 15 Michigan Jan. 19 Rep. SC Jan. 19 Rep. SC Jan. 26 Dem SC Jan. 26 Dem SC Jan. 29 Florida Jan. 29 Florida Feb. 5 “Super Tues*.” Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New Your, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennesse, Utah, West Virginia. Feb. 5 “Super Tues*.” Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New Your, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennesse, Utah, West Virginia. Mar. 4 “Jr Tues.” Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland,, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, TEXAS, and Vermont. Mar. 4 “Jr Tues.” Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland,, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, TEXAS, and Vermont. *Super Tues. was traditionally in March—now in February! Many more dates/states followed! Many more dates/states followed!

Feb. 5 was a BIG day! This was called SUPER TUESDAY, and everyone thought one candidate from each party would have enough delegates to wrap up the nomination after this date. This was called SUPER TUESDAY, and everyone thought one candidate from each party would have enough delegates to wrap up the nomination after this date. The Hillary Clinton campaign and her supporters thought she would have the nomination wrapped up after this night--- but she was in for a long battle. The Hillary Clinton campaign and her supporters thought she would have the nomination wrapped up after this night--- but she was in for a long battle. Delegate Tracker Delegate Tracker Delegate Tracker Delegate Tracker

Delegate Selection Out of total for Dems in 2004: Out of total for Dems in 2004: –Iowa only 56 d (1.2%) –NH only 27 d (.62%) –TX 232 d (5.4%) But by Mar. 9, our votes didn’t matter!

So what’s the story behind Michigan & Florida on the Dem side? DNC Rules Committee met on May 31 st and in a bitter debate between Clinton and Obama supporters, they voted to allow half of Michigan and Florida delegates to be seated at the convention this week. DNC Rules Committee met on May 31 st and in a bitter debate between Clinton and Obama supporters, they voted to allow half of Michigan and Florida delegates to be seated at the convention this week. –Clinton supporters were not happy about this!

Clinton suspends her campaign on June 7 th.

Who was picked to be the VP running mates? McCain : Will announce this Friday. McCain : Will announce this Friday. Obama : Sen. Joe Biden Obama : Sen. Joe Biden –(D-Delaware)

States held their state party conventions over the summer. Democrats in TX Democrats in TX –June 5-7 –Austin Republicans in TX Republicans in TX –June –Houston

National Conventions Democrats are meeting in Denver, Colorado, this week at the downtown Pepsi Center. site Democrats are meeting in Denver, Colorado, this week at the downtown Pepsi Center. sitesite Republicans will meet in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, next week at the RiverCentre / Xcel Energy Center. site Republicans will meet in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, next week at the RiverCentre / Xcel Energy Center. sitesite –Week-long conventions (and big party!). –Each state sends delegates (who were chosen at the state conventions.) –Write the party platform. –Delegates vote for presidential and vice-presidential nominees. and vice-presidential nominees. –Acceptance speeches.

Major Candidates Democrat Democrat Democrat –Barak Obama Republican Republican Republican –John McCain

Third Party/Independent Candidates *Libertarian Party *Libertarian Party Bob Barr & Wayne Allen Root Bob Barr & Wayne Allen Root *Green Party *Green Party Cynthia McKinney Cynthia McKinney *Independent *Independent Ralph Nader & Matt Gonzalez Ralph Nader & Matt Gonzalez *Republican still in race *Republican still in race Ron Paul Ron Paul

Potential First Ladies Michelle Obama Michelle Obama Cindy McCain Cindy McCain

Debates Presidential Presidential –Sep. 26, Oct. 7, Oct. 15 VP VP –Oct. 2

General Election First Tuesday, after the first Monday in November. (Nov. 4 th ) First Tuesday, after the first Monday in November. (Nov. 4 th ) Get registered when you turn 18, research the candidates, and VOTE! Must register in TX by Oct. 6 th.