1. Election Campaigns
Vote
Conventions

2. Phases of Political Campaigns
Potential candidates begin “testing the water” 1½ - 2 years before the election.
Primary campaigns begin about 1½ years before the election.
Primaries in most states - December-April (a few in May and June)
Party caucuses in spring
State party conventions – early summer
National party conventions – summer
Main campaign August – November
Election in November

3. What is the objective? To win enough votes in the
Electoral College to assure victory
for their party’s candidate.
538 voters in the Electoral College
Must have 270 votes to win Presidency.

4. Balancing Priorities New Hampshire Texas
In the primaries – small states critical
Because of early primaries
Don’t want to be labeled a “loser”
In main election – big states critical
Because of Electoral College system
Big populations
New Hampshire
Texas

5. Campaign Strategy versus ? Aggressive attack? Low-key approach?
Slogans?
Themes?
Issues to emphasize?
$$$ on TV? Radio? Newspapers?
versus ?

6. Campaign Organization
Strong organization essential
Campaign manager
Political advisors
Specialists
State party officials
Local party officials
Field workers (volunteers)

7. TV and the Candidate’s Image
Desire to appear “presidential”
People believe what they “see”
“Packaging”
News coverage (often staged)
TV news = most common source of news
Political commercials
Televised debates

8. Financing Campaigns Very expensive
$$$
Financing Campaigns
Very expensive
In 2000, Bush and Gore spent $629 million in about 14 weeks of “main” campaign.

9. Financing Campaigns $$$ Soooo . . . Campaigns are getting more
For the 2012 campaign, Obama
raised over $1 billion.
Soooo Campaigns are getting more
expensive each election cycle.

10. Campaign Finance Rules
Until 1970’s – campaign money came entirely from contributions
Suspicions about what candidate promised in order to get contributions
Wealthy had too much power
No limits on how much could be contributed.

11. Reform of Campaign Laws
Principals of reform
Public funding of campaigns
Place limits on spending
Public disclosure
Only individuals (people, not corporations) could donate max $1000
No donations from corporations, unions, etc.

12. Political Action Committees
Growth of PACs
Political Action Committees
Individual (including corporations) can give PAC max of $5000
PAC can give candidate max $5000
PAC can contribute to many candidates

13. Soft Money
Money for “general purposes” not designated for a specific candidate
Includes non-money donations
Disclosure issues

14. Recent Reform Efforts However Prohibit “soft” money donations
Ceilings on spending
Full disclosure
Stakes are high
Who will control government?
However

15. Citizens United
Supreme Court decision was 5/4 which opened the door to unlimited donations to super PACS
People, companies and unions can give whatever they want to boost someone to office or remove them.
This ruling puts more power in the hands of wealthy individuals.

16. Money and Ethics

17. ASSIGNMENT Your “ideal” candidate has
Work with your partner
Your “ideal” candidate has
agreed to run for President. Based
upon what you learned today:
1) Create a timeline for his/her campaign in 2012.
2) What 3 issues will be most important to your “ideal” candidate and what position will he/she take on those 3 issues?
Issue #1 ___?____
Position: ________
________?_______
Issue #2 ___?____
Position: ________
________?_______
Issue #3 ___?____
Position: ________
________?_______