Election Campaigns

Winning Office -Elections have two important parts Nomination Campaign -Nomination Process Must have party’s backing to run for office (only one person from each major party) Why was the nomination process not a big deal for B. Obama? -Campaigning Candidates travel the country and try to get elected

Nominating Process -Caucus -a meeting of party leaders to name candidates -Convention -meeting of party representatives (delegates) to name candidates State and national levels -Primary Elections -special election held by party members to determine candidates For major elections See who the people will support

Primary Elections -Open Primary -primary where any voter can help chose candidates Do not have to be a member of that political party -Closed Primary -primary where only party members are allowed to vote -Closed are most often used to protect the party’s nominees Do not want non-members to select weaker candidates

Primary Elections Primary Elections primary elections serve to narrow down a field of candidates

Primary Elections Most states hold closed primaries in which only declared members may vote for the party’s nominees. A few states hold an open primary in which voters need not declare a party preference to vote for the party’s nominees.

General Elections general elections actually elect candidates to offices.

Presidential Candidates -selected by a combination of all three nominating processes -caucuses Political parties use caucuses and primary elections in many different states to determine who the national candidate will be -primaries -National convention Party officially announces who Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates will be

Endorsements -using a famous person to support a candidate If voters like the person endorsing the candidate, they might vote for that person

Advertising -using the media to campaign Mold the candidate’s image -primary method of campaigning -negative advertising -- Process of using advertisements that focus on the faults and shortcomings of your opponent rather than your goals Mudslinging Allows people to attack their opponent without giving them an immediate opportunity to respond

Canvassing -person to person campaigning Travel through neighborhoods asking for votes and taking polls Get information to public Grassroots -”campaign trail” Mapping where to travel to receive the most votes

Canvassing Canvassing asks voters how they are going to vote. People who canvass either go door to door or call you on the phone and try to persuade you. Campaigns use this information to persuade undecided voters to vote for their candidates and try to get people to the polls.

Other Methods -symbolism Using American icons to mold image -generalizations Generalized statements about to reach out to more people -bandwagon Everyone else is doing it…

Public Funding -Presidential Candidates get government funding for their campaigns Individuals can donate $3 on their income taxes - one general fund -equal funding Presidential Election Campaign fund -Party can spend extra on behalf of candidates Can donate soft $ to political party, then party can spend it on the election

Private Funding -private funding is limited in most cases -candidate can spend any amount of their own money Advantage to the rich -individuals can donate $1,000 -PAC-- Groups that are formed in order to raise money for candidates running for office---they are limited to a 5,000 donation to an individual candidate Political Action Committee - interest groups give money to candidates -campaign finance reform Try to keep candidates from buying elections

Political Action Committee (PAC) These are political organizations established by corporations, labor unions, and other special interest groups designed to support candidates by contributing money. PACs support candidates who favor their position on issues by contributing to their parties. In a democracy, government should represent all the people, even those without money or power. Critics of the current system argue that wealthy donors may receive special favors not available to average citizens.

Campaign Funding A campaign for a major office takes a lot of money. Parties raise money for the campaign and help get the candidates’ views across to the public. They make sure supporters are registered to vote and actually vote.