Nom, nom, nom…ination Chapter 9

Get Pumped! http://www.quia.com/quiz/768980.html?AP_rand =809913705

The pressures of running http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/vid eo/mr-romney-hard-running- president-15255939 Presidential candidates tend to run out of money before they choose to stop running for President Jan 2012 : $226 millions 2008 : collectively about $2 billion 8 major candidates dropped out of the 2012 race

National Convention National Party convention: meets every four years to determine who will run for President. Formerly controlled by party “Bosses” Usually leaders of big cities Determined who attended and who they voted for. 1968 Democratic Convention http://www.history.com/videos/violence-batters- 1968-democratic-convention - chicago-seven- conspiracy-trial

1968 Democratic Convention The methods to select a presidential Candidate were considered elite, and disenfranchised common voters. McGovern-Fraser Commission: created in response to the convention to better decide how to represent voters when selecting candidates. The result?! Caucuses Primaries

Spicing things up Superdelegates: delegates who are guaranteed a say in the Presidential candidate regardless of voter opinion. Surviving elitist portion of conventions Why is this bad? Undermines voter decision-making Disconnected from public opinion.

Two Choices Caucus: Voters must show up at a set time and express their Presidential preference. States that choose these are mostly rural Primaries: Voters go to the polls and express their preference for President. Two types Open Primary – don’t have to declare a party to participate Closed Primary – have to identify with a party All occur between Jan-June of election year

Get on up (or stay seated, whichever) Identify possible problems that can be caused by caucuses and primaries. Hint: Think about how large our voter turnout is You’re running for President! How would you get voters out to the polls? Decide where you spend most of your campaign money. Slamming same party Saving for ads while President

99 Problems Problems with Caucuses and Primaries Disproportionate attention goes to the early caucuses and primaries Prominent politicians find it difficult to take time out from their duties to run Money plays too big a role in the caucuses and primaries Participation in primaries and caucuses is low and unrepresentative The system gives too much power to the media

Campaign Travels http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- srv/special/politics/2012-presidential-campaign- visits/ National primary: propose to replace current system with a nationwide primary. Pros: Directness for voters and candidates, votes in all states of equal importance, lessen importance of media. Cons: Americans have to vote twice in primaries, and once in November for President, nominee would only receive small margins (25% of vote)

Regional Primary Regional Primary: Primaries held in various regions at different times. (Eastern, then Central, then Western etc.) Pros: more rational structure on candidate travel, an end to focusing on states for attention in primaries. Cons: Advantage gained by whichever region goes first