Campaigns and Elections The nominating process Campaign organization Problems with campaign finance Organization and implementation of elections

The nomination ► The 1 st step: choosing of candidates within each party ► Narrows the field of possible candidates ► Self Nomination= was the main way until the 1800’s (still used in small towns) ► Candidate must file a petition to be on the ballot (number of signatures varies per state) ► If not enough signatures to get on ballot, can be a “write-in candidate”  Rarely successful

Party Caucus ► Constitution doesn’t give instructions for nominating candidates for Pres./V.P.. ► 1797, party leaders (wealthy, influential) decided to keep power by holding caucuses  Early meetings where party leaders chose candidates in secret (voters had no part) ► By 1820, caucuses were controversial, “King Caucus”…they faded away.

Party Nominating Convention ► Replaced caucuses ► Official meeting of a political party candidates and delegates are chosen.  Both systems have been abused  Most states don’t use conventions  National convention still used

The Direct Primary ► Replaced convention system in most states. ► An election held within each party to pick candidates for the general election. ► States usually set the dates and conduct. ► Different kinds of primaries  Closed primary  Open primary  Run-Off Primaries  Nonpartisan elections

Nominating Presidential Candidates ► Begins with state primaries, caucuses and conventions, which are followed by the national party conventions.  State parties, caucuses or conventions  National party conventions ► Adopt the official party platform ► Decide who will be the party’s v.p. and pres. Candidates ► delegates ► Not as important in the nominating process as they once were.

The Campaign

Campaign- originally a military word ► To win = organized, well planned, $  *see diagram on pg. 299 ► Campaign Strategy  Aggressive vs. low key, issues?, theme/slogan? $ for t.v. etc… ► Traditional Techniques  Door to door ► Mass media and computerized techniques ► Opinion polls (tracking polls)

3 ways campaigns make a difference ► Reawaken partisan loyalties of voters  Right after a nomination, that persons popularity with both parties goes up. Media attention during the summer months when not much else is going on. ► See how candidates handle pressure  Negative ads work by stimulating voter turnout ► Allow the voter to judge the core values/character of the candidate.

Campaign costs ► Campaign finance laws

Campaign-Financing Laws ► FECA Federal Election Campaign Act  No limits on overall spending  Restricted amount to be spent on mass media  Limited amount that candidates and their families could contribute to their own campaigns  Required candidates to disclose all expenditures and contributions over $100  $1 checkoff on federal income tax returns (has since been raised to $3)

Amendments to the Act: 1974 ► Created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for enforcement. ► Public financing for presidential primaries and general elections. ► Limits on pres. Campaign spending: if you agree to fed. Support, you must agree to limit expenditures. ► Required disclosure. ► Limited contributions: citizens can give up to $1000/candidate in each fed election or primary. Total limit for any individual in one year is $25,000. Groups can contribute a max of $5,000 to a candidate in any election. ► 1976 Case: Buckley v. Valeo- court ruled unconstitutional the part that limits amount candidate can spend on his/her own campaign

Barack Obama ► Barack Obama became the first presidential nominee to opt out of the public funding system set up after the Watergate scandal. ► To date, he has raised nearly $650 million (Nov. 4 th 2008) ► By contrast, John McCain, who opted for public funds has raised about 360 million dollars overall.