1. 1) In June 1990, what were George Bush and congressional leaders meeting to discuss?
2) What would George Bush have to do which caused a huge stir in Washington?
3) What would bad news for big business mean for lobbyist firms?
4) What is the image people outside of Washington see lobbyists?
5) What effect have lobbyists had on Washington in regards to the corporate cause?
6) When lawmakers give a speech, who usually comprises the audience?
7) To get political leaders to listen, whom do lobbyists often take with them.
8) Why?
9) What phrase do lobbyists use to indicate when they left the congressional payroll to become a lobbyist?
10) Why did Wayne Thevenot “leave the hill”?

2. Nominations and Campaigns
Chapter 9

3. The Nomination Game Nomination: Campaign Strategy:
The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party. Generally, success requires momentum, money, and media attention.
Campaign Strategy:
The master plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign.

4. The Nomination Game Deciding to Run
Campaigns are physically and emotionally taxing.
Other countries have short campaigns - generally less than 2 months.
U.S. campaigns (especially for President) can last 18 months or more.

5. The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates The Caucus Road
Caucus: Meetings of state party leaders. Used to selected delegates.
Now organized like a pyramid from local precincts to the state’s convention.
Not used by many states.
Iowa’s is first and considered the most important.

6. The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates The Primary Road
Primary: Elections in which voters choose the nominee or delegates pledged to the nominee.
Started by turn of the century reformers.
Most states use one of the forms of a primary.
Frontloading is the tendency of states to hold primaries early- New Hampshire is first.
Generally primaries serve as elimination contests.

7. The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates
Evaluating the Primary and Caucus System
Disproportionate attention to the early ones.
Prominent politicians find it difficult to make time to run.
Money plays too big a role.
Participation in primaries and caucuses is low and unrepresentative.
The system gives too much power to the media.

8. The Nomination Game
The Inflated Importance of Iowa and New Hampshire (Figure 9.1)

9. The Nomination Game The Convention Send-off
Once provided great drama, but now they are a basic formality - which means less TV time.
Are still important to the party to get organized and motivated.
Party platform: Statement of its goals and policies and general beliefs.
Official nominations and candidate speeches.

10. The Nomination Game
The Declining Coverage of Conventions on Network TV (Figure 9.2)

11. The Campaign Game The High-Tech Media Campaign
Direct mail used to generate support and money for the candidate
Get media attention through ad budget and “free” coverage
Emphasis on “marketing” a candidate
News focuses on strategies and events, not on policies

12. The Campaign Game Organizing the Campaign Get a campaign manager
Get a fund-raiser & counsel
Hire media and campaign consultants
Assemble staff / plan the logistics
Get research staff, policy advisors & pollsters
Get a good press secretary
Establish a web site

13. Money and Campaigning The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms
Federal Election Campaign Act (1974)
Created the FEC to administer campaign finance laws for federal elections.
Public financing of presidential elections
Limited spending & required disclosure
Limited contributions to campaigns
Soft Money
Contributions (with no limits) used for party-building expenses or generic party advertising
McCain-Feingold Act (2002) banned soft money, increased amount individuals can contribute, and limited “issue ads”

14. Money and Campaigning
The Decline in Income Tax Check-Off Participation for Federal Financing of Campaigns (Figure 9.3)

15. Money and Campaigning The Proliferation of PACs
Definition: Created by law in 1974 to allow corporations, labor unions and others to donate money to campaigns.
Over 4,000 PACs donating over $250 million
Donate to candidates who support their issue, regardless of party affiliation
Not sufficient data that PACs “buy” candidates

16. Money and Campaigning

17. Money and Campaigning Are Campaigns Too Expensive?
Fund raising takes up lots of time.
The closer the race, the more money is needed.
Incumbents do worse when they spend more money because they need it when they face tough challengers.
The doctrine of sufficiency suggests that candidates need just “enough” money to win.

18. The Impact of Campaigns
Campaigns have three effects on voters:
Reinforcement, Activation, Conversion
Mostly, they only reinforce & activate
Selective perception: pay attention to things we agree with.
Party identification still has an affect
Incumbents start with a substantial advantage

19. Understanding Nominations and Campaigns
Are Nominations and Campaigns Too Democratic?
Campaigns are open to almost everyone
But they 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 make government cuts.