Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Nominations and Campaigns Chapter 9. The Presidential Campaign Calendar ► The year (OR TWO) before the election – Announce intent to run ► January-June.

Similar presentations


Presentation on theme: "Nominations and Campaigns Chapter 9. The Presidential Campaign Calendar ► The year (OR TWO) before the election – Announce intent to run ► January-June."— Presentation transcript:

1 Nominations and Campaigns Chapter 9

2 The Presidential Campaign Calendar ► The year (OR TWO) before the election – Announce intent to run ► January-June of Election Year – Caucuses and Primaries ► End of Summer – National Party Conventions ► Fall – Debates between Candidates ► November – Election ► January 20 th - Inauguration

3 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

4 The Nomination Game ► Deciding to Run  Campaigns are more physically and emotionally taxing than ever.  Other countries have short campaigns, generally less than 2 months.  American campaigns are much longer. ► Whoever is elected president declares their intention to run early in the year BEFORE the election.

5 Delegates? HUH? ► When you participate in a caucus or primary, you are choosing DELEGATES who will attend the convention in support of the candidate you like best. A vote for Candidate X is REALLY a vote for a delegate to attend the convention to SUPPORT Candidate X ► The more delegates supporting Candidate X at the convention, the more likely he/she is to get the nomination ► Primaries vs Caucuses http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_95I_1rZiIs Primaries vs Caucuses http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_95I_1rZiIs Primaries vs Caucuses http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_95I_1rZiIs

6 The Nomination Game ► Competing for Delegates  The Caucus Road ► Caucus: system for selecting delegates used in about a dozen rural states. Voters show up at a set time and attend an open meeting to show their preference for President. ► Caucusing is EASY! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=racTAiemEQU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=racTAiemEQU ► A handful of states use a caucus—open to all voters who are registered with a party. Takes more time on the part of the people. Lower turnout than for states with primaries. ► The Iowa caucus is first and most important.

7 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  Most delegates are chosen through primaries.  Superdelegates: party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the National Convention ► 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.

8 McGovern-Fraser Commission ► Formed as a reaction to the violence at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968 (anti-war party members felt they weren’t represented within the convention) ► Wanted to be sure that the delegates to the DNC were really representative of the Democratic Party itself (women, minorities, etc.)

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

10 The Nomination Game ► Competing for Delegates  Nomination game is an 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 ► The convention meets every four years to nominate the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates. ► Party platform is written. ► Conventions are but a formality today (they’re really a big party!!).

11 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 and policies for next four years ► Debated on the second day of the Convention  Formal nomination of president and vice-president candidates on third and fourth days

12 The Nomination Game

13 The Campaign Game ► The High-Tech Media Campaign  Direct mail is 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

14 The Campaign Game ► Organizing the Campaign  Get a campaign manager  Get a fund-raiser & campaign counsel (attorney)  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

15 The Campaign Game

16 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 ($3 voluntary donation on income tax forms) ► Provided partial public financing for presidential primaries  Matching funds: Candidates who raise $5000 in at least 20 states can get donations of up to $250 matched by the federal treasury. If candidates accept this money they agree to limit what they spend on their campaigns.

17 Money and Campaigning  Federal Election Campaign Act (1974) continued ► Provided full public financing for major party candidates in the general election. In 2008, this fixed amount was $85 million. Obama did not accept it and raised money in maximum amounts of $2300 per individual donor. He raised $337 million which gave him a huge edge over McCain who accepted the $85 million. ► Required full disclosure of all campaign donations to the FEC listing who contributed and how much ► Limited contributions per individual to $1000. The limit was raised to $2300 in 2008.

18 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.” ► This was overturned by the Supreme Court case Citizens United v. FEC (2010) which says that this was a limit on free speech. Corporations and unions can now spend as much as they like to promote their political views.

19 Money and Campaigning ► 527 groups: Just known as 527s. Independent groups that seek to influence political process but are not subject to contribution restrictions because they do not directly seek election of particular candidates. ► Created as a way for groups to get around the ban on soft money. Examples: Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (anti- Kerry 527) and Moveon.org (anti-Bush 527) ► Swift Boat Veterans Ad Swift Boat Veterans Ad Swift Boat Veterans Ad

20 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 2008 there were 4,611 PACs.  PACs contributed over $412.8 million to congressional candidates in 2008  PACs donate to candidates who support their issue.  PACs do not “buy” candidates, but give to candidates who support them in the first place.  All PAC donations must be carefully recorded by candidates

21 Money and Campaigning

22 ► Are Campaigns Too Expensive?  Fundraising takes a lot of time.  Incumbents do worse when they spend more money because it means they need to spend more to defeat quality challengers.  The doctrine of sufficiency suggests that candidates need just “enough” money to win, not necessarily “more.” (Meg Whitman lost to Jerry Brown although she outspent him by $100 million)

23 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 influences voting behavior  Incumbents begin with sizeable advantage

24 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

25 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.


Download ppt "Nominations and Campaigns Chapter 9. The Presidential Campaign Calendar ► The year (OR TWO) before the election – Announce intent to run ► January-June."

Similar presentations


Ads by Google