© 2010 Pearson Education Chapter 9 Campaigns & Elections

Case Study: Democratic Presidential Nomination –The race for the Democratic presidential nomination came down to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. –In 2000 and 2004, the party’s nominee was secured by the end of March. In early June 2008, Obama finally racked up enough delegates to claim the nomination.

Types of Elections Americans have the opportunity to cast ballots in several types of elections. –A general election Voters may cast split tickets or straight tickets.

Types of Elections (cont.) –In most states, major parties choose their general election candidates in primary elections. Month or more before the November election Closed primary –Limited to voters who are registered to vote as party affiliates Other states hold open primaries –Voters may participate in either party’s election, but not both.

Election Districts and Redistricting Voters select public officials through:Voters select public officials through: –An at-large election Voters choose public officials whereby an entire political subdivision, such as a state, is at stake.Voters choose public officials whereby an entire political subdivision, such as a state, is at stake. –Or, a district election Voters choose public officials in which a political subdivision, such as a state, is divided into districts and each district elects one official.Voters choose public officials in which a political subdivision, such as a state, is divided into districts and each district elects one official.

Election Districts and Redistricting: Reapportionment Legislative district boundaries must be redrawnLegislative district boundaries must be redrawn –every 10 years or –after the national census is taken. –This redistricting process can be used to advance the interests of a political party or a particular individual through the practice of gerrymandering.

Election Districts and Redistricting: Reapportionment (cont.) Census data are used for apportioning the 435 seats of the U.S. House of Representatives. –Legislative districts must also be redrawn to reflect population movement within a state. –Legislative districts must be nearly equal in population size. –The 2000 census

Election Districts and Redistricting: The Voting Rights Act The Voting Rights ActThe Voting Rights Act –Affects the redistricting process Increases legislative representation for African American and Hispanic Democrats and, ironically, white RepublicansIncreases legislative representation for African American and Hispanic Democrats and, ironically, white Republicans

Election Districts and Redistricting: Gerrymandering and Mid-Cycle Redistricting GerrymanderingGerrymandering –The designing of election districts to give advantage to one group over another might be accomplished with a view to: racerace incomeincome partyparty some other political advantagesome other political advantage

Election Districts and Redistricting: Gerrymandering and Mid-Cycle Redistricting Mid-Cycle redistrictingMid-Cycle redistricting –Practice of redrawing legislative districts outside the regular redistricting cycle in order to gain political advantage

Election Campaigns A political campaign –An attempt to get information to voters that will persuade them to support or oppose a candidate Big-time political campaigns are expensive. Campaign money raised from: Individuals Groups Parties The candidates themselves

House Elections –U.S. House of Representatives incumbents are usually reelected. Congressional campaigns have grown more expensive and challengers have been unable to raise sufficient funds. Incumbents benefit from the growing tendency of voters to regard House races as a local contest. –Although incumbency is the most important factor affecting House elections, national factors have an influence as well. Congressional Elections

Senate Elections –More competitive than House elections –There are a number of differences between Senate and House races that account for the relatively greater vulnerability of Senate incumbents. Senate constituencies are more diverse than most House constituencies and hence more competitive. Incumbent senators generally face stronger challengers than House incumbents. Voters tend to perceive Senate races as national election contests.

Presidential Elections Presidential Elections consist of 2 phases: 1) The Presidential Nomination Phase Contests in which each candidate competes for his or her party’s nomination.Contests in which each candidate competes for his or her party’s nomination. 2) General Election Phase The two major party candidates (along with third party candidates) compete to win an Electoral College majority in the November general election.The two major party candidates (along with third party candidates) compete to win an Electoral College majority in the November general election.

Presidential Elections: The Presidential Nomination Phase –The first phase, each candidate competes for his or her party’s nomination. –Nominations are awarded at a national party convention.

Presidential Elections: The Road to Nomination Six stages in today’s presidential nomination process Pre-primary positioning phase Iowa & New Hampshire Super Tuesday Post-Super Tuesday Contests Transition National party conventions

The Delegate Selection Process Varies from state to stateVaries from state to state Presidential preference primariesPresidential preference primaries Caucus methodCaucus method

Reforming the Delegate Selection Process For more than a century, the Democratic and Republican parties nominated their candidates at national conventions. Dominated by elected officials and local party leadersDominated by elected officials and local party leaders –The 1968 Democratic Convention was the catalyst for reforming the delegate selection process. –The effect Weakened the authority of party leaders in the nomination processWeakened the authority of party leaders in the nomination process Increased the power of party voters and activistsIncreased the power of party voters and activists

The General Election Phase: The Electoral College

The General Election Phase The Fall Campaign –Candidates target large states where the election is expected to be close. –Full funding is available for the finalists from the Presidential Campaign Fund.

The General Election Phase Blue States, Red States, and the 2008 Election

The Voters Decide Political scientists believe that a number of factors determine voter choice. Such factors may include:Political scientists believe that a number of factors determine voter choice. Such factors may include: –Political campaigns –Political party identification –Issue concerns –Perceptions of candidates’ personal qualities –Retrospective and prospective voting

Conclusion: Elections and Policymaking The relationship between elections and specific public policies is indirect at best. –Elections are fought over many different issues. –Voter choice is based on more than the issues. –Election constituencies overlap. –The constitutional system tempers the short-term impact of electoral change. It is very difficult to bring about significant policy change as a result of one election.