1. Campaigns and Elections Parties work to control government by winning elections…how?

2. Objectives Identify differences between Presidential and Congressional elections. Why do incumbent members always win? What impact does the primary schedule have on the presidential election? What are the steps for running for President? What is “candidate- centered politics?”

3. Presidential vs. Congressional Elections Presidential More competitive Narrow margins Partisan Term limits take away incumbent's advantage President Serves masses President is held accountable Congressional Turnout is usually lowerTurnout is usually lower Less competitiveLess competitive Incumbents serves constituentsIncumbents serves constituents Campaign AGAINST WashingtonCampaign AGAINST Washington Can ride Coattails of more popular candidates.Can ride Coattails of more popular candidates. Party is not as important…IE Joe LibermanParty is not as important…IE Joe Liberman

4. Turnout in Presidential and Congressional Elections

5. Road to the White House Step 1 Get mentioned Use the media Reporters Support Legislation Governor Personal charisma and fame. (Keynote speaker at National Convention)

6. Road to White House (Continued) Find time to run May have to resign from current job 2 year process in some cases Senators skip many votes/Governors will turn authority to Lt. Gov’s Travel to States like New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina to “test the waters”

7. Road to White House Before the primaries candidates need to find ways to raise money During primaries almost all candidates accept FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS..meaning the government matches money raised by candidates in primaries In order to qualify for funds candidates must raise $5,000 in 20 states in contributions of $250 or less for primaries

8. Road to the White House (con’t) Organization is key Large paid staff Volunteers on the ground and in caucuses Advisors to help create POSITION PAPERS Political Consultants

9. Road to the White House (con’t) Formulate a strategy Defend or attack? Tone; + or - ? Theme; trust, experience, change Timing Target voter

10. Presidential Primaries Different from General elections Different voters Need to mobilize activists for $ More ideological. Balancing Act liberal or conservative enough to be nominated Move to center after nomination.

11. Primary Schedule Since reforms almost every state holds a primary or caucus Run by local election officials New Hampshire Always hosts the first primary (tradition) SUPER TUESDAY Major states all have their primaries on the same day

12. The Issues Position Issues Women’s right to choose Public school choice Social security Valence Issues A strong economy Good Public Education Be ware of candidate centered politics…stance on issues doesn’t matter as much as the personality of the candidate.

13. Iowa Caucuses February of each Presidential Election Year. Mass party meetings Must do well to get media attention and contributor interest

14. The General Election (Candidate Centered Politics) Advertising; Most efficient way; 30 second spots Make the “News” Cycle Sunday political shows CNN Infomercials Obama and Perot have done it. Internet (age of blogging and chain emails)

15. Candidate Centered Politics (Continued) Televised Debates 1 st in 1960 Richard Nixon and JFK JFK had make-up Nixon didn’t shave Radio listeners felt Nixon won the debate TV viewers sided with Kennedy Looks and personality important for a President.

16. Debates Continued The debate only really helps the challenger OR the candidate trailing. The favorite candidate has nothing to gain from them. The Debate is the perfect time for a candidate to show their personality and likeability. They can use commercials to get out their message See reading on “Killer Question” and “Mad as Hell revolt at the Ballot Box”

17. What decides Presidential Elections? There have been more registered Democrats than GOP in modern history. Why don’t Dems always win? Democrats aren’t traditionally as loyal to their party as Republicans GOP has TRADITIONALLY done better with Independent voters GOP voters demographically are more likely to turnout (see chapter 6 if you have questions) Bottom line; candidate centered voting and salient issues are what decides elections “It’s the economy stupid!” James Carville 1992

18. What does the electorate look like?

19. Getting elected to Congress # 1 Factor in determining Congressional elections is INCUMBENCY!! Advantages of incumbents are; Sophomore Surge; Incumbents usually win more MORE votes the second time around Campaigns are personalized Name recognition Legislators are tied to LOCAL concerns Franking Privilege Mostly true in the HOUSE

20. House reelection is easier than senate reelection. Why? Senators have to campaign across and entire diverse state House districts are usually homogenous and drawn to favor one of the two parties. States are geographically bigger therefore harder to visit Senators have to speak to national issues/not local concerns

21. Incumbents Always win!

22. Hey…must be the money!

23. Where does the financial advantage come from?

24. Just how much does it cost?

25. District Boundaries Effect outcomes Malapportionment: Districts have vastly different populations “rotten Burroughs” Gerrymandering: Districts are drawn to favor one party of the other Are these legal? Supreme Court Ruled in Westberry v Sanders and Baker vs. Carr about them Districts must be roughly the same size Gerrymandering should not be based off race http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/drawing-the- lines-parties-fight-for-redistricting-power/4756/http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/drawing-the- lines-parties-fight-for-redistricting-power/4756/

26. Is there anything wrong with this Picture?

27. So when do you want to run for Congress? Open seats are the most competitive Vacated seat by retirement, arrest, or vacancy. MUCH $ spent in these contests

28. Money in Presidential Elections Primaries Part public/part private (Federal matching money) Must raise money in 20 different states to obtain matching dollars Money is very important in primaries where candidates need to highlight themselves against similar candidates.

29. Money in the General Election Lots of $$$$ has been spent lately George W. Bush nearly $400 million in 2004 Barack Obama 600 million Question; accept public money for general cycle(with a cap on spending) or accept UNLIMITED private funds McCain public/Obama private

30. Hard Money v. Soft Money Limits by law for past 30 years Money raised and spent on candidates Congressional and Presidential elections Money from public sources No limits until ‘02 Money given to party and PACs Used for recruitment, voter drives Raised for one purpose…Ends up in a campaign Recent laws limiting

31. Finance Rules 1974 Campaign Reform Law Limit on donations $1,000 (hard money) Corporations and unions have to form PAC’s to contribute money PAC requirements; 50 members Give to 5 different federal candidates No more than $5,000 per election per candidate and no more than $15,000 per year to any party (hard money) LOOP HOLE…soft money…money for “Party building activities”unlimited

32. 2002 McCain/Feingold Reforms Bipartisan effort to “clean up” fund raising #1 objective; end soft money Raised hard money to $2,000 max Outside Groups cannot run TV ads 30 days before election Results? Did it work? Which party benefited? Loopholes? 527 groups Constitutionality? Freedom of Speech?

33. Citizens United vs. FEC Controversy of the airing of the movie “Hillary” An anti-Clinton film aired during the Democratic Primaries Was stopped by FEC because it violated the 30 day rule put in place by McCain Feingold The US Supreme Court struck down that provision of the law “Banning the film violated first amendment protections of free- speech” Future implications?

34. FEC FAQ’s http://www.fec.gov/ans/answers_general.sht mlhttp://www.fec.gov/ans/answers_general.sht ml