1. Nominations and Campaigns
Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy
Thirteenth AP* Edition
Edwards/Wattenberg/Lineberry
Chapter 9
Nominations and Campaigns
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2. How can running for office be more demanding than governing?
Read pgs and answer:
Identify three events presidential candidate Barack Obama participated in on March 21, 2008.
Did he get much sleep the previous night? Explain why or why not.
What evidence is there which could support the following statement? It is often said that the presidency is the most difficult job in the world, but getting elected to the position may well be tougher.
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Campaigns & Elections
“Money is the mother’s milk of politics.”
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4. How can running for office be more demanding than governing?
1. What argument(s) is/are indentified to support the notion that the current long campaign season is good for democracy?
2. What argument(s) is/are indentified to support the notion that the current long campaign season is harmful for democracy?
3. Why is Anthony King critical of the campaign process? Fully explain.
4. What are the two stages in a presidential campaign?
5. What are the steps in the nomination process?
6. What are the three things candidates need more than anything in order to win the delegates that will gain them the nomination?
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The Nomination Game
Nomination: the official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party
Nomination process: the steps taken by the candidates vying for the official endorsement (nomination) of their party for President
What are the steps to the nomination?
Campaigning for votes in caucuses and primaries (party elections) to win delegates.
Getting the “3 M’s” (money, media, momentum)
To win the nomination a candidate must obtain a certain number of delegates (a majority or more).
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Essential Question
Is the current nomination process good for our representative democracy or is it harmful to our representative democracy?
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The Nomination Game
Is the current nomination process good for democracy?
Defenders of the current loooong campaign season argue that it promotes greater democracy and that it makes the candidates prove their mettle. Successful candidates undergo “trial by fire.”
Critics say the system makes it difficult for politicians w/other responsibilities to carry on their duties.
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The current nomination process is harmful to our democracy. Assess the validity of this statement.
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9. The current nomination process is harmful to our democracy
The current nomination process is harmful to our democracy. Assess the validity of this statement.
Arguments against current system (harmful)
Arguments in favor of current system (beneficial)
The long season makes it hard for incumbents to govern…candidates could also spend this time planning for governing
The early caucus/primary states have a disproportionate influence on the selection process.
Money plays too big a role. This money can corrupt our democracy.
The media’s influence is disproportionate. (They focus on 1-2 candidates...)
The long season actually gives voters the chance to see which candidates are up for the job of President (If someone can’t handle the pressures of campaigning, how can he/she handle the pressures/demands of the presidency.)
Citizens have more time and opportunities to get involved. (They can volunteer, give money…they, not elites, can select a nominee)
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The Nomination Game
Generally, success requires momentum, money, and media attention.
Campaign Strategy: the master game plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign
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The Nomination Game
Deciding to Run
Campaigns are more physically and emotionally taxing than ever.
Other countries have short campaigns, generally less than 2 months.
American campaigns are much longer.
Whoever is elected president in November 2008 will likely have declared their intention to run in early 2007.
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The Nomination Game
Competing for Delegates
Nomination game is an elimination contest
Goal is to win a majority of delegates’ support at the national party convention, or the supreme power within each of the parties
The convention meets every four years to nominate the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
Conventions are but a formality today.
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The Nomination Game
Competing for Delegates
The Caucus Road
Caucus: meetings of state party leaders for selecting delegates to the national convention
Organized like a pyramid from local precincts to the state’s convention
A handful of states use a caucus—open to all voters who are registered with a party
The Iowa caucus is first and most important.
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The Nomination Game
Competing for Delegates
The Primary Road
Primary: elections in which voters in a state vote for a nominee (or delegates pledged to the nominee)
Began at turn of 20th century by progressive reformers
Today, most of the delegates to the Democratic and Republican national conventions are selected in presidential primaries, in which voters go to polls and vote for a candidate or delegates pledged to that candidate. Delegates are also chosen in caucuses.
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The Nomination Game
The increase in the number of primaries occurred after the Democratic Party’s disastrous 1968 national convention led many to rethink the delegate selection procedures then in place.
Minorities, women, youth, and other groups that had been poorly represented in the party leadership also demanded a more open process of delegate selection.
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The Nomination Game
McGovern-Fraser Commission led to selection of delegates through primary elections; As a result of their decisions, party leaders could no longer handpick the convention delegates in secret; All delegate selection procedures were required to be open, so that party leaders had no more clout than college students or anyone else…
Most delegates in both parties are chosen through primaries.
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The Nomination Game
More moderate Democrats and many party leaders were concerned that reforms went too far…
Super delegates: Democratic leaders who automatically get a delegate slot; Since % of Democratic delegates are superdelegates to maintain some voice for party leaders.
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The Nomination Game
Frontloading is the tendency of states to hold primaries early to capitalize on media attention. New Hampshire is first.
Generally primaries serve as elimination contests.
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The Nomination Game
Competing for Delegates
Evaluating the Primary and Caucus System
Disproportionate attention to early ones
Prominent politicians do not run.
Money plays too big a role.
Participation in primaries and caucuses is low and unrepresentative; 20 percent vote in primaries and even less in caucuses
The system gives too much power to the media.
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The Nomination Game
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The Nomination Game
The Convention Send-off
National conventions once provided great drama, but now are a formality, which means less TV time.
Significant rallying point for parties
Key note speaker on first day of Convention
Party platform: statement of a party’s goals and policies for next four years
Debated on the second day of the Convention
Formal nomination of president and vice-president candidates on third and fourth days
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The Nomination Game
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The Campaign Game
The High-Tech Media Campaign
Campaigning today is heavily dependent on technology.
TV is the most prevalent means used by candidates to reach voters. However, it focuses mainly on the “horse race” (who’s winning) rather than substantive policy issues
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The Campaign Game
As one of its most important uses, computer technology targets mailings to prospective supporters.
Direct mail used to generate support and money for the candidate
The internet is now a major source of fundraising for candidates.
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The Campaign Game
The most important goal of any media campaign is simply to get attention. Media attention is determined by two factors:
(1) how candidates use their advertising
(2)the “free”attention they get as news makers
TV advertising is the biggest item in a campaign budget
Get media attention through ad budget and “free” coverage
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The Campaign Game
The free attention candidates receive can be very helpful, but is often beyond their control. Even this, however, can work to their advantage. (Swift Boat ads ran by a “527” group benefited Bush and destroyed Kerry.)
Emphasis on “marketing” a candidate
News stories focus more on the “horse race” than substantive policy issues
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The Campaign Game
Organizing the Campaign
Get a campaign manager
Get a fund-raiser and campaign counsel
Hire media and campaign consultants
Assemble staff and plan logistics
Get research staff, policy advisors, and pollsters
Get a good press secretary
Establish a website
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The Campaign Game
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Money and Campaigning
The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms
Federal Election Campaign Act (1974)
Created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to administer campaign finance laws for federal elections
Created the Presidential Election Campaign Fund
Provided partial public financing for presidential primaries
Matching funds: Contributions of up to $250 are matched for candidates who meet conditions, such as limiting spending.
Provided full public financing for major party candidates in the general election
Required full disclosure and limited contributions
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Money and Campaigning
The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms
Soft Money: political contributions (not subject to contribution limits) earmarked for party-building expenses or generic party advertising
The McCain-Feingold Act (2002) banned soft money, increased amount of individual contributions, and limited “issue ads.”
527s: independent groups that seek to influence political process but are not subject to contribution restrictions because they do not directly seek election of particular candidates
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Money and Campaigning
The Proliferation of PACs
Political Action Committees (PACs): created by law in 1974 to allow corporations, labor unions and other interest groups to donate money to campaigns; PACs are registered with and monitored by the FEC.
As of 2006 there were 4,217 PACs.
PACs contributed over $288.6 million to congressional candidates in 2004.
PACs donate to candidates who support their issue.
PACs do not “buy” candidates, but give to candidates who support them in the first place.
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Money and Campaigning
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Money and Campaigning
Are Campaigns Too Expensive?
Fundraising takes a lot of time.
Incumbents do worse when they spend more money because they need to spend to defeat quality challengers.
The doctrine of sufficiency suggests that candidates need just “enough” money to win, not necessarily “more.”
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34. The Impact of Campaigns
Campaigns have three effects on voters:
Reinforcement, Activation, Conversion
Several factors weaken campaigns’ impact on voters:
Selective perception: pay most attention to things we agree with
Party identification still influence voting behavior
Incumbents begin with sizeable advantage
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35. Understanding Nominations and Campaigns
Are Nominations and Campaigns Too Democratic?
Campaigns are open to almost everyone.
Campaigns 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 cut size of government
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Summary
Campaigns are media-oriented and expensive.
Delegates are selected through caucuses and primaries.
Money and contributions from PACs regulated by the FEC are essential to campaigns.
Campaigns reinforce perceptions but do not change minds.
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