NOMINATING CAMPAIGNS Objectives: Describe the role of campaign strategy in winning a nomination to elective office Bell Ringer: Sidney Blumenthal called the American electoral process “the permanent campaign.” In your own words, please explain what he meant by this. Agenda: Nomination process Campaign advertising Homework: Chapter 8 Overview

NOMINATING CAMPAIGNS Objectives: Describe the role of campaign strategy in winning a nomination to elective office Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of presidential campaign advertisements Bell Ringer: You Be the Policymaker: National and Regional Presidential Primary Proposals Agenda: Nomination process Campaign advertising Homework: Chapter 8 Overview Chapter 8 Reading Quiz next class “A Killer Question” reading and handout due 12/8 (A) and 12/9 (B)

The Nomination Game Nomination The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party Generally, success requires momentum, money, and media attention. Campaign Strategy The master game plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign George W. and Laura Bush at the 2000 Republican Convention

The Nomination Game Deciding to Run Campaigns are more physically and emotionally taxing than ever. American campaigns are much longer. Barack Obama made clear his intention to run for POTUS in January Other countries have short campaigns, most less than two months.

The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates Elimination contest Goal is to win a majority of delegates’ support at the national party convention, or the supreme power within each of the parties Convention every four years to nominate the party’s POTUS and VP candidates. Conventions are but a formality today.

The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates The Caucus Road Caucus: meetings of state party leaders to select delegates to the national convention Organized like a pyramid from local precincts to the state’s convention A handful of states use a caucus—open to all voters who are registered with a party The Iowa caucus is first and most important.

The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates The Primary Road Primary: elections in which voters in a state vote for a nominee (or delegates pledged to the nominee) Began at turn of 20 th century by progressive reformers McGovern-Fraser Commission led to selection of delegates through primary elections Most delegates are chosen through primaries. Superdelegates: democratic leaders who automatically get a delegate slot Frontloading is the tendency of states to hold primaries early to capitalize on media attention. New Hampshire is first. Generally primaries serve as elimination contests.

The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates Evaluating the Primary and Caucus System Disproportionate attention to early ones Prominent politicians do not run. Money plays too big a role. Low participation in primaries and caucuses; 20 percent vote in primaries. The system gives too much power to the media.

The Nomination Game Suggested modifications to the caucus and primary system: National primaries: a nationwide primary held early in the election year. Regional primaries: a series of primaries held in each geographic region.

The Nomination Game

The Convention Send-off National conventions once provided great drama, but now are a formality, which means less TV time. Significant rallying point for parties Key note speaker on first day of Convention Party platform: statement of a party’s goals/policies for next four years Debated on the second day of the Convention Formal nomination of POTUS & VP candidates on 3 rd & 4 th days

The Nomination Game

NOMINATING CAMPAIGNS Objectives: Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of presidential campaign advertisements Examine the growth of PACs and their impact on modern campaigning Assess the crucial role of money in American campaign organizations Bell Ringer: Last class you watched a number of presidential campaign commercials. Which ad did you find to be the most effective? Which was the most ineffective? For each describe the ad, the advertising methods/tactics, and talk about why the ad did or did not work. Agenda: Campaign advertising Campaign finance Homework: A Killer Question: article and questions Campaign Finance Reform/527 article Test on Thursday, March 8 th

The Campaign Game The High-Tech Media Campaign Direct mail used to generate support and money for the candidate Get media attention through ad budget and “free” coverage Emphasis on “marketing” a candidate News stories focus more on the “horse race” than substantive policy issues

The Campaign Game Organizing the Campaign Get a campaign manager Get a fund-raiser and campaign counsel Hire media and campaign consultants Assemble staff and plan logistics Get research staff, policy advisors, and pollsters Get a good press secretary Establish a website

The Campaign Game

Money and Campaigning The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms Federal Election Campaign Act (1974) Created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to administer campaign finance laws for federal elections Created the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Provided partial public financing for presidential primaries Matching funds: Contributions of up to $250 are matched for candidates who meet conditions, such as limiting spending. Provided full public financing for major party candidates in the general election Required full disclosure and limited contributions

Money and Campaigning The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms Soft Money: political contributions (not subject to contribution limits) earmarked for party-building expenses or generic party advertising The McCain-Feingold Act (2002) banned soft money, increased amount of individual contributions, and limited “issue ads.” 527s: independent groups that seek to influence political process but are not subject to contribution restricts because they do not directly seek election of particular candidates

Money and Campaigning The Proliferation of PACs Political Action Committees (PACs): created by law in 1974 to allow corporations, labor unions and other interest groups to donate money to campaigns; PACs are registered with and monitored by the FEC. As of 2006 there were 4,217 PACs. PACs contributed over $372.1 million to congressional candidates in PACs donate to candidates who support their issue. PACs do not “buy” candidates, but give to candidates who support them in the first place.

Money and Campaigning

Are Campaigns Too Expensive? Fundraising takes a lot of time. Incumbents do worse when they spend more money because they need to spend to defeat quality challengers. The doctrine of sufficiency suggests that candidates need just “enough” money to win, not necessarily “more.”

The Impact of Campaigns Campaigns have three effects on voters: Reinforcement, Activation, Conversion Several factors weaken campaigns’ impact on voters: Selective perception: pay most attention to things we agree with Party identification still influence voting behavior Incumbents begin with sizeable advantage

Understanding Nominations and Campaigns Are Nominations and Campaigns Too Democratic? Campaigns are open to almost everyone. Campaigns consume much time and money. Campaigns promote individualism in American politics. Do Big Campaigns Lead to an Increased Scope of Government? Candidates make numerous promises, especially to state and local interests. Hard for politicians to promise to cut size of government

Summary Campaigns are media-oriented and expensive. Delegates are selected through caucuses and primaries. Money and contributions from PACs regulated by the FEC are essential to campaigns. Campaigns reinforce perceptions but do not change minds.