Nominations and Campaigns Chapter 9 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman. Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy Fourteenth Edition

The Nomination Game Nomination – The official ___________ of a candidate for office by a political party – Generally, success requires __________ money, and media attention. Campaign Strategy – The master game plan candidates lay out to guide their _____________ campaign

The Nomination Game Deciding to Run – Campaigns are more physically and emotionally _________ than ever. – American campaigns are much longer. Barack Obama made clear his intention to run for president in January ___________. Other countries have short campaigns, generally less than ______ months.

The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates – Nomination game is an ___________ contest – Goal is to win a majority of _________ support at the national party convention, or the supreme power within each of the parties The _____________ meets every four years to nominate the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Conventions are but a formality today.

The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates – The Caucus Road ______________ meetings of state party leaders for selecting delegates to the national convention Organized like a __________ from local precincts to the state’s convention A handful of states use a caucus—open to all voters who are registered with a party The __________ caucus is first and most important.

The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates – The Primary Road _______________: 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 – McGovern-Fraser Commission led to selection of delegates through primary elections – Most delegates are chosen through primaries. – _____________________: democratic leaders who automatically get a delegate slot ______________ is the tendency of states to hold primaries early to capitalize on media attention. New Hampshire is first. Generally primaries serve as elimination contests.

The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates – Evaluating the Primary and Caucus System __________________ attention to early ones _________________ politicians do not run. Money plays too big a role. Participation in primaries and caucuses is _____ and unrepresentative; 20 percent vote in primaries. The system gives too much power to the _______.

The Nomination Game

The Convention Send-off – National conventions once provided great ______, but now are a _________, which means less TV time. – Significant ___________ point for parties – Key note speaker on first day of Convention – Party __________: statement of a party’s goals and policies for next four years Debated on the second day of the Convention – Formal ____________ of president and vice-president candidates on third and fourth days

The Nomination Game

The Campaign Game The High-Tech Media Campaign – _______ ________ used to generate support and money for the candidate – Get media attention through ad budget and “free” coverage – Emphasis on “__________” a candidate – News stories focus more on the “_______ ________” than substantive policy issues

The Campaign Game Organizing the Campaign – Get a _______________ manager – Get a fund-raiser and campaign ________ – Hire media and campaign consultants – Assemble staff and plan ____________ – Get research staff, policy advisors, and pollsters – Get a good _________ _____________ – Establish a website

The Campaign Game

Money and Campaigning The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms – Federal Election Campaign Act (1974) Created the Federal Election _________ (FEC) to administer campaign finance laws for federal elections Created the ________________ Election Campaign Fund Provided partial public financing for presidential primaries – ___________funds: Contributions of up to $250 are matched for candidates who meet conditions, such as limiting spending. Provided full public financing for major party candidates in the general election Required full ______________ and limited contributions

Money and Campaigning The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms – ________ __________: political contributions (not subject to contribution limits) earmarked for party-building expenses or generic party advertising – The ___________- _____________ Act (2002) banned soft money, increased amount of individual contributions, and limited “issue ads.” – _________: independent groups that seek to influence political process but are not subject to contribution restricts because they do not directly seek election of particular candidates

Money and Campaigning The Proliferation of PACs – ______________ _______ ____________ (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 __________ PACs. – PACs contributed over $_________ million to congressional candidates in – PACs donate to candidates who support their issue. – PACs do not “_______” candidates, but give to candidates who support them in the first place.

Money and Campaigning

Are Campaigns Too Expensive? – ______________ takes a lot of time. – Incumbents do worse when they spend more money because they need to spend to defeat quality challengers. – The _________ of sufficiency suggests that candidates need just “enough” money to win, not necessarily “more.”

The Impact of Campaigns Campaigns have three effects on voters: – Reinforcement, Activation, ___________ Several factors weaken campaigns’ impact on voters: – _____________ ____________: pay most attention to things we agree with – Party identification still influence voting behavior – Incumbents begin with sizeable advantage

Understanding Nominations and Campaigns Are Nominations and Campaigns Too Democratic? – Campaigns are open to almost everyone. – Campaigns ___________ much time and money. – Campaigns promote ____________ in American politics. Do Big Campaigns Lead to an Increased Scope of Government? – Candidates make ___________ promises, especially to state and local interests. – Hard for politicians to promise to _______ size of government

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.