1. 10.3
Choosing Candidates For Public Office:
The Nomination Process

2. Elective Office
Half a million people in US hold office

3. Most elections Candidates compete for their party’s nomination
1st = Primary election
Then = General Election (one from each party)

4. Primary Elections Common in US Rare in rest of world
Early 1900’s = Progressive Era
Before nominees were selected by party leaders
Primary elections brought selection process out in open

5. Closed Primary Voting limited to registered party members
Limits voting to party faithful

6. Open Primary All voters can vote
Votes decide which party primary to vote in on election day
Allows participation in primary of the voters choice

7. Problems?
Yes…
Anyone can declare themselves a member of a party and vote………usually for the weaker candidate. This takes away real votes from the stronger candidate…..and this party will be defeated in the general election

8. Other types
Blanket Primary (only a few states) = choose a candidate from either party
Nonpartisan Primary = City Council/school board/sheriff . Majority of votes wins

9. Participation Become declared candidate
Self announcement (press conference)
Before….exploratory committee (is there public support)
Weeks ………Years

10. Establish a Campaign Organization
Must run a well organized campaign
Small = volunteers (manager & treasurer)
Large = Volunteers and paid specialists
$$$$$$$$$$$

11. $$$$$$$ Candidates need to raise $$ Fundraisers Asking for $$
Campaign moves forward with $$

12. And Campaign Strategies and Themes…. Most states = primary
Some use the party caucus (12 states)

13. caucus
Closed meeting of people from one political party who will select candidiates or delegates

14. What happens
Small groups of party members meet in their communities to discuss who is running
Then….. delegates are chosen to represent a candidate at that party’s state convention

15. Iowa Caucuses Watched closely during a presidential election year
1st indicator of presidential race

16. Must Develop a Strategy
Tone = positive or nagative
Theme = “change” “yes we can” “forward” “make America great again”
Targeting = middle class, elderly, blue collar

17. Also How to present candidates political views
Different in primary than in general election
Need to appeal to party base
More extreme views than average voter

18. Reaching The Voters 3 approaches Retail Politics = “meet and greet”
Or direct contact with voters…..in touch with ordinary people

19. Wholesale politics Mail and media campaigns Reach 1000’s TV ads
Televised debates
Internet
Social media

20. Micro-targeting
Uses databases to narrow groups of voters and reaches them with custom messages
Reaches a certain group or sends a specific message

21. Getting the Nomination
Summer before Presidential election
D & R hold a national convention
Presidential nominees are chosen through primaries and caucus process
Party officially nominates a candidate

22. Another Way Petition Independent and third party candidates
Collect signatures from qualified voters to be placed on ballot
Laws differ from state to state

23. check When did primary elections begin?
Who can vote in a closed primary?
What are the key elements of a campaign strategy?
What is the purpose of the national convention?