1. Presidential Campaign
After National Conventions, candidates plan a strategy.
Nominee’s personal organization takes over.
Campaign manager and aides
State and local campaigns
Volunteers

2. Campaign Strategy Decide how a campaign will be run. Major Decisions-
1. Candidate Image- how will the candidate appear to the public.
2. Campaign Theme- where the candidate stands on certain issues.
3. Incumbency- Edge in power if candidate is seeking another term.
4. Party Identification- relate to voter’s party I.D.

3. Campaign Finance
A lot of money is spent on the campaign trail.
Money goes for television & radio time, candidate and party websites, professional campaign managers, newspaper advertisements, pamphlets, buttons, posters, bumper stickers, office rent, polls, data processing, mass mailings, travel, and more.
Federal Election Campaign Act (1971)- controls use of money in Congressional and Presidential elections.

4. Where does the $$$ come from?
Public Sources—the federal and some state treasuries subsidize (grant money) for campaigns
Private Sources:
a. Small contributors—those who give $5 or $10 occasionally
b. Wealthy individuals—the “fat cats” who can make large donations
c. Candidates—both incumbents and challengers throw in some of their own money
d. Political Action Committees (PACs)—arms of special interest groups and other organizations with a stake in electoral politics
e. Temporary Organizations—groups formed for the immediate purposes of a campaign

5. Restrictions on Finances
Federal Election Commission (1974)—an independent agency in the executive branch that administers all federal law dealing with campaign finance
4 Broad Areas:
1. Timely disclosure of campaign finance data.
2. Limits on contributions.
3. Limits on campaign expenditures.
4. Provide public funding- from income tax returns.

6. Other limits Limits on Hard Money & Soft Money.
Hard money- money raised and spent to elect candidates for Congress or President.
Soft Money- Money given to party organizations. Not the candidate.
Soft money contributions banned to political parties in 2002 (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act).