1. The Road to the White House
Executive Branch
The Road to the White House

2. Step 1: Elections for nominations
Evolution of nominations:
Party caucus in Congress
National Conventions (Jackson, 1828)
Party sends delegates
Problem: Total Party control
Primary system (Progressives, 1900)
Voters picking who delegates give votes to
Not all states used this

3. New rules (1968)
Forces regular delegates to vote acc. to primary / caucus
Super Delegates: party members, usually elected officials who can vote according to their own opinion (only in D’s)
Natl Conventions:
official nomination of Pres/VP
party platform

4. Step 2: Campaign for Nomination
Frontloading campaigns: emphasis on getting ahead early! (But not too early….)
Important 1st stops:
Iowa caucus: Barack wins! Gains momentum..
New Hampshire primary: Hillary wins! Gains momentum…
States trying to get ahead: Florida lose delegates to convention

5. Paying for it Federal Election Campaign Act (1974):
Hard money
Soft money
Reformed by BCRA: Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act – eliminates soft $
Federal matching funds for primaries:
Matches 1st $250 of each donation IF raise $5000 from individuals who give no more than $250 in 20 states
Limits total spending
All the candidates refused except John Edwards

6. Step 3: Winning the General Election
Media
News:
Sound bites
Guest appearances: Tyra, Oprah, Leno, etc.
YouTube - Hillary with Tyra Banks
Commercials
Negative Campaigning – help or hinder?
Debate
Famous supporters
Maxine Waters – Hillary
Kennedy’s – Obama

7. Party support: $$$$ GOTV – “soft” money Drawback for minor parties
Federal funding for general election
Need at least 5% of vote in last election
Major party candidates - $75 million (but can’t spend any of their own $)

8. Step 4: Electoral College