1. Nominations and Campaigns Chapter 9

2. The Nomination Game Nomination: Nomination: –The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party. Generally, success requires momentum, money, and media attention. Campaign Strategy: Campaign Strategy: –The master plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign.

3. The Nomination Game Deciding to Run Deciding to Run –Campaigns are physically and emotionally taxing. –Other countries have short campaigns - generally less than 2 months. –U.S. campaigns (especially for President) can last 18 months or more.

4. The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates Competing for Delegates –The Caucus Road  Caucus: Meetings of state party leaders. Used to selected delegates.  Now organized like a pyramid from local precincts to the state’s convention.  Not used by many states.  Iowa’s is first and considered the most important.

5. The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates Competing for Delegates –The Primary Road  Primary: Elections in which voters choose the nominee or delegates pledged to the nominee.  Started by turn of the century reformers.  Most states use one of the forms of a primary.  Frontloading is the tendency of states to hold primaries early- New Hampshire is first.  Generally primaries serve as elimination contests.

6. McGovern-Fraser Commission  McGovern-Fraser Commission led to selection of delegates through primary elections –After the 1968 Democratic National Convention –Had the responsibility to make the convention delegates more representative of the people, women, minorities, young people –Superdelegates: Democratic leaders (governors, congressmen, party leaders) who automatically get a delegate slot. To add some peer review of the delegates choice.

7. The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates Competing for Delegates –Evaluating the Primary and Caucus System  Disproportionate attention to the early ones.  Prominent politicians find it difficult to make time to run.  Money plays too big a role.  Participation in primaries and caucuses is low and unrepresentative. 5% caucus 20% primary  The system gives too much power to the media.

8. The Nomination Game The Inflated Importance of Iowa and New Hampshire (Figure 9.1) The Inflated Importance of Iowa and New Hampshire (Figure 9.1)

9. The Nomination Game The Convention Send-off The Convention Send-off –Once provided great drama, but now they are a basic formality - which means less TV time. –Are still important to the party to get organized and motivated. –Party platform: Statement of its goals and policies and general beliefs. –Official nominations and candidate speeches.

10. The Vice President Chosen by roll call vote on the last day Chosen by roll call vote on the last day Custom dictates that delegates simply vote whom ever the presidential nominee recommends. Custom dictates that delegates simply vote whom ever the presidential nominee recommends. Often announced way before the convention to balance the ticket. Often announced way before the convention to balance the ticket.

11. The Nomination Game The Declining Coverage of Conventions on Network TV (Figure 9.2) The Declining Coverage of Conventions on Network TV (Figure 9.2)

12. The Campaign Game The High-Tech Media Campaign 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 –http://www.nbc.com/saturday_night_live/ http://www.nbc.com/saturday_night_live/ –Emphasis on “marketing” a candidate –News focuses on strategies and events, not on policies

13. The Campaign Game Organizing the Campaign Organizing the Campaign –Get a campaign manager –Get a fund-raiser & counsel –Hire media and campaign consultants –Assemble staff / plan the logistics –Get research staff, policy advisors & pollsters –Get a good press secretary –Establish a web site –http://www.barackobama.com/index.php http://www.barackobama.com/index.php –hppt://www.johnmccain.com/ hppt://www.johnmccain.com/

14. Money and Campaigning The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms 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 $3 check-off  http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf?portlet=3 http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf?portlet=3  Provided partial public financing for presidential primaries –Matching funds: $5000 in 20 states -- Contributions of up to $250 are matched for candidates who meet conditions, such as limiting spending. Many are now choosing to forgo matching funds so they do not have to limit campaign expenditures.  Congressional Candidates receive no federal monies  Provided full public financing for major party candidates in the general election – 2008 spending limits $84 million per major candidate  Required full disclosure and limited contributions approx. $2000  Buckley v. Valeo struck down the limits on a person spending his own money.

15. CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM OR “MONEY,MONEY WHOSE GOT THE MONEY”

16. 1970s WATERGATE Annenberg Syndrome Annenberg Syndrome Hoffa and the Unions Hoffa and the Unions Corporate Donations Corporate Donations Untraceable Donations Untraceable Donations

17. Campaign Finance Act of 1974 ResolutionsOrLoopholes

18. CFRA PERSONAL DONATIONS +All donations over $100 must be documented with name, address and occupation of donor +All donations over $100.00 must be reported to a Federal Elections Commission +No CASH donations over $100.00

19. PERSONAL DONATIONS +Personal donations are limited to $1,000 per candidate per election. +Personal donations are limited to $1,000 per candidate per election.

20. CFRA CANDIDATES MONEY +Candidates have a limit placed on their own personal money.

21. CFRA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND +The federal government will pay the entire cost of a candidates election (up to the legal limit). The candidate may NOT use other donated money once the federal funds are accepted

22. CFRA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FUND +Matching funds in presidential election primaries. Candidates can get a federal match for donations of $250 or less. The candidate must $5,000 in each of 20 states from donations of $250 or less.

23. CFRA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES +Unions and others may create PACs to donate. Donations are limited to $5,000 or less per candidate per election per year. PACs formed by unions or associations may not use dues but may create a separate donation system.

24. PROBLEMS ORLOOPHOLES

25. Buckley v. Valeo A candidates personal money is not subject to regulation. Using it in the candidates campaign is an act of free speech.

26. PAC proliferation Example: NEA $5,000 UEA $5,000 FEA $5,000 Each separate district $5,000 Any one can form a PAC

27. INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES Private persons can use unlimited money to finance election campaigns. They can not work with, for or in union with a candidate. They must be truly independent.

28. SOFT MONEY +No limit on money given to political parties +Money from person to party to candidate is untraceable

29. ABUSES Doles doggies Doles doggies Clintons kids Clintons kids Soft Money and the Lincoln Bedroom Soft Money and the Lincoln Bedroom Others? Others?

30. MC CAIN – FEINGOLD +Personal Contributions over $100.00 No change +Personal Contributions raised to $2000.00 +PACs no change +Unions and Corporations can not donate to parties (Soft money) +Soft money is banned

31. continued Parties may use donated money to Parties may use donated money to +get out the vote +conduct issue campaigns +VOTE FOR the party campaigns

32. more Independent expenditures still unlimited but may not run with in 60 days of a general election and 30 days of a primary Independent expenditures still unlimited but may not run with in 60 days of a general election and 30 days of a primary

33. Soft Money Funds obtained by political parties that are spent on party activities, such as get-out-the vote drives, but not on behalf of a specific candidate. Money that could be spent by the party for generic advertising and no limits on contributions. Funds obtained by political parties that are spent on party activities, such as get-out-the vote drives, but not on behalf of a specific candidate. Money that could be spent by the party for generic advertising and no limits on contributions. Campaign Finance Reform Act 2002 (McCain/Feingold) Campaign Finance Reform Act 2002 (McCain/Feingold) –Banned soft money and increased individual contributions to $2000 –Corporations, labor unions, trade associations and non profit organizations can not use their own money to refer to a clearly identified federal candidate in any advertisement during the 60 days prior to a general election. –527 organizations  Organizations that under section 527 of the IRS code, raise and spend money to advance political causes – they can spend money on politics so long as they do not coordinate with a candidate or lobby directly for that person. No restrictions on amounts.  http://www.npr.org/blogs/secretmoney/outside_groups/brave_new_films/ http://www.npr.org/blogs/secretmoney/outside_groups/brave_new_films/  In 2004 these groups spent $424 million.

34. Political Action Committee PAC A PAC is formed when a business association or some other interest group decides to contribute to candidates they believe will support their goals – they must register with the FEC A PAC is formed when a business association or some other interest group decides to contribute to candidates they believe will support their goals – they must register with the FEC Must have at least fifty members (all who enroll voluntarily) Must have at least fifty members (all who enroll voluntarily) And must not give more than $5,000 to any one candidate nor more than 15,000 to a political party. And must not give more than $5,000 to any one candidate nor more than 15,000 to a political party.

35. Money and Campaigning The Proliferation of PACs 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 $288.6 million to congressional candidates in 2004. –PACs donate to candidates who support their issue. –PACs do not “buy” candidates, but give to candidates who support them in the first place. –PACs are buying access

36. Money and Campaigning

37. Are Campaigns Too Expensive? Are Campaigns Too Expensive? Americans spend about $2 billion every four years in local state and national elections. Americans spend about $2 billion every four years in local state and national elections. –Fund raising takes up lots of time. –The closer the race, the more money is needed. –Incumbents do worse when they spend more money because they need it when they face tough challengers. –The doctrine of sufficiency suggests that candidates need just “enough” money to win.

38. The Impact of Campaigns Campaigns have three effects on voters: Campaigns have three effects on voters: –Reinforcement, Activation, Conversion Mostly, they only reinforce & activate Mostly, they only reinforce & activate –Selective perception: pay attention to things we agree with. –Party identification still has an affect –Incumbents start with a substantial advantage

39. Understanding Nominations and Campaigns Are Nominations and Campaigns Too Democratic? Are Nominations and Campaigns Too Democratic? –Campaigns are open to almost everyone –But they consume much time and money –Campaigns promote individualism in American politics Do Big Campaigns Lead to an Increased Scope of Government? 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 make government cuts.