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Published byAlexis Lynch Modified over 9 years ago
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Nominations and Campaigns Chapter 9
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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 plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign.
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The Nomination Game Deciding to Run – Other countries have short campaigns- generally less than 2 months. – U.S. campaigns (especially for President) can last 18 months or more. – Generally need to start out with an electoral base already established.
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The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates – The Caucus Road Caucus: Meetings of party leaders used to select delegates. Now organized like a pyramid from local precincts to the state’s convention. Not used by many states. Iowa’s is considered the most important.
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The Nomination Game 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. Many primaries are early- with New Hampshire being the first. Generally serve as elimination contests.
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The Nomination Game 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. The system gives too much power to the media.
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The Nomination Game Figure 9.1 The Perception of Iowa and New Hampshire
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The Nomination Game 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.
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The Campaign Game The High-Tech Media Campaign – Use of direct mail to generate support and money for the candidate – Get media attention through ad budget and “free” coverage – Emphasis on “marketing” a candidate – News focuses on strategies and events, not on policies
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The Campaign Game Organizing the Campaign – Get a campaign manager – Get a fund-raiser & legal counsel – Hire media and campaign consultants – Assemble staff / plan the logistics – Get research staff, policy advisors & pollsters – Get a good press secretary
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Money and Campaigning The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms – FEC: Created by law in 1974 to administer campaign finance laws for federal elections. Public financing of presidential elections Limited spending & required disclosure Limited contributions to campaigns – Soft Money Contributions (with no limits) used for party-building expenses or generic party advertising
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Money and Campaigning The Proliferation of PACs – Definition: Created by law in 1974 to allow corporations, labor unions and others to donate money to campaigns. – Over 3900 PACs donating over $212 million – Donate to candidates who support their issue, regardless of party afiliation – Not sufficient data that PACs “buy” candidates
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Money and Campaigning $ given% to Rep Microsoft3,942,43553 Philip Morris2,830,98580 Am Fed of State Empl6,500,8891 Comm. workers of Am3,687,6141 NRA2,884,12792 Emily’s List1,979,8290 From Table 9.1
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Money and Campaigning Are Campaigns Too Expensive? – Fund raising takes up lots of time. – The closer the race, the more money is needed. Does Money Buy Victory? – Too much money can be worse than not enough. – But, candidates need “enough” money to win
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The Impact of Campaigns Campaigns are perceived as doing: – Reinforcement, Activation, Conversion Mostly, they only reinforce & activate – Selective perception: pay attention to things we agree with. – Party identification still has an effect – Incumbents start with a substantial advantage
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Understanding Nominations and Campaigns Are Nominations and Campaigns Too Democratic? – Campaigns are open to almost everyone – But they are time and money consuming Do Big Campaigns Lead to an Increased Scope of Government? – They involve lots of communication – Hard to be all things to all people
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Citizens United Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission United States Supreme Court held that the 1 st Amendment prohibits the government from restricting political independent expenditures by corporations, associations, or labor unions. The conservative lobbying group Citizens United wanted to air a film critical of Hillary Clinton and to advertise the film during television broadcasts in apparent violation of the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain–Feingold Act or "BCRA"). In a 5–4 decision, the Court held that portions of BCRA violated the First Amendment. United States Supreme Court independent expenditurescorporationsassociationslabor unionslobbyingCitizens UnitedHillary ClintonBipartisan Campaign Reform Act
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Colbert skewers SuperPacs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuqSELPy NSo&list=PLUqgfBkLUC12gss93WBt2OA1lEDjC w72B http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuqSELPy NSo&list=PLUqgfBkLUC12gss93WBt2OA1lEDjC w72B
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Super PAC ads http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qulpuc VacM8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qulpuc VacM8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5m9Q ZWwIgQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5m9Q ZWwIgQ
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Internet Resources Federal Election Commission Center for Responsive Politics Campaigns and Elections magazine Klipsan Election notes
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