Nominations and Campaigns A Changing Game—Influence of Media & Money on Politics

Incumbency Advantage Incumbency Advantage… What is it? Tendency of the current officeholder to win re-election Most important factor in determining outcome of Congressional elections (Over 90% in House; over 75% in Senate) Why does this exist? Money, 2:1 ratio v. challengers Visibility Gerrymandering

Nomination Process Deciding to Run Build a Base/Fund Raise Develop Vague Platform Party-Centered Issue Centered Candidate Centered… More common now…why? Clinch Party’s Nomination: Nat’l Conv. Goal: win majority of delegate votes from primary/caucuses & thus clinch party nomination

Selecting Delegates to the Party Convention Caucus Primary Closed meeting of like-minded people Delegates Selected: Precinct level …. County …. District … Iowa Caucus People vote directly for a candidate; delegates then selected accordingly. Open, Closed, & Blanket Blanket – can vote for both dem and GOP Open – can vote only for one Closed – have to be a registered member New Hampshire Primary Delegates chosen to move on to next level,

Iowa Caucus

Frontloading What is meant by Frontloading? What is Super Tuesday? States hold their primaries early to capitalize on media attention Why is this trend occurring? What is Super Tuesday?

National Convention Meet every 4 years to : Nominate the presidential and vice presidential candidates Bring party back together Write the party’s platform. What’s the platform? Delegates to convention chosen thru primaries/caucus Superdelegates Reserved spots @ the National Convention for party leaders. Statement of Goals and policies for next for years

Changing Campaigns Increasing Impact of Media Technology Bandwagon Effect, Sensationalism, Focus on trivial; Sound Bite-Journalism; Speculation Technology Social Networks Mass Impact on Funding Free Media Exposure (News clips) Advertising Growth of negative campaigning Extremely high costs

Campaign Spending…Is It Out of Control? How much can you contribute: $2,700 per election to a Federal candidate $5,000 per calendar year to a PAC $10,000 per calendar year to a State or local party committee $100 in currency (cash) to any political committee. Co springs carry advantage 2 to 1; obama lost by 19% in 2008…but spending more money there this year…ad space less expensive in co springs than in denver…and whether you carry swing state not necessarily only winning votes in your strongholds…doesn’t matter where you make up the 5%...

Federal Election Reform Act (1974) Buckley v. Valeo (1976) – campaign spending = free speech McCain-Feingold Act/ Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act Limited Soft Money in fed. campaigns Buckley: Said can’t limit individuals contribution to their own campaign b/c limits speech

Political Action Committees (PACs) Groups formed by business, labor, or other interest groups; sole purpose raise money/make contributions to help elect a political candidate whom they support or help defeat a candidate

Citizens United v. Federal Election Committee (2010) freedom of speech prohibits the government from restricting independent political expenditures by nonprofit corporations, for-profit corporations, labor unions, and other associations.