1. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

2. The Nomination Game Nomination The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party. Success in the nomination game requires momentum, money, and media attention. Campaign Strategy Master game plan that guides a candidate’s electoral campaign. LO 9.1 To Learning Objectives

3. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Nomination Game Deciding to Run A presidential candidacy in the United States needs to be either announced or an “open secret” for at least a year before the election. Barack Obama made clear his intention to run for president in January 2007. LO 9.1 To Learning Objectives

4. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates National Party Convention – The supreme power within each party. McGovern-Fraser Commission – In response to demands for reform by minority groups and others seeking better representation. Super-delegates – Party leaders automatically get delegate slot at national party convention. LO 9.1 To Learning Objectives

5. LO 9.1 To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

6. The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates Caucus - A system for selecting convention delegates used in about a dozen mostly rural states in which voters must show up at a set time and attend an open meeting to express their presidential preference. LO 9.1 To Learning Objectives

7. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates (cont.) Presidential primaries are elections in which a state’s voters go to the polls to express their preference for a party’s nominee for president. Frontloading – Recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar to capitalize on media attention. LO 9.1 To Learning Objectives

8. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates (cont.) Evaluating the Primary and Caucus System – Disproportionate attention goes to early ones; prominent politicians do not run; money plays too big a role; participation is low and unrepresentative; and too much power goes to the media. LO 9.1 To Learning Objectives

9. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Nomination Game The Convention Send-Off Rallying point for parties. Key note speaker on first day of Convention. Party platform (2 nd day) – Goals and policies for next 4 years. Formal nomination of president and vice- president candidates on third and fourth days. LO 9.1 To Learning Objectives

10. LO 9.1 To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

11. The Campaign Game The High-Tech Media Campaign Direct mail used to generate support and money for candidate. Get media attention through ad budget and free news coverage. The emphasis is on marketing a candidate because news stories focus more on the horse race than substantive policy issues. LO 9.2 To Learning Objectives

12. LO 9.2 To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

13. The Campaign Game Organizing the Campaign Get a campaign manager, a fund-raiser, and a campaign counsel. Hire media and campaign consultants. Assemble staff, plan logistics, and get research staff, policy advisors, pollsters, and a good press secretary. Establish a website. LO 9.2 To Learning Objectives

14. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Money and Campaigning The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 created Federal Election Commission; provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections; limited presidential campaign spending; required disclosure; and limited contributions. LO 9.3 To Learning Objectives

15. LO 9.3 To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

16. Money and Campaigning The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms (cont.) Soft Money – Contributions for party building expenses or generic party advertising not subject to contribution limits. McCain-Feingold Act (2002) bans soft money, increased amount of individual contributions, and limited issue ads. LO 9.3 To Learning Objectives

17. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Money and Campaigning The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms (cont.) 527 Groups – Independent groups seek to influence the political process but are not subject to contribution limits because they do not directly seek election of particular candidates. The name 527 Groups comes from Section 527 of the federal tax code by which they are governed. LO 9.3 To Learning Objectives

18. LO 9.3 To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

19. Money and Campaigning The Proliferation of PACs Political Action Committees are funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms. A corporation, union, or some other interest group can create a political action committee (PAC) and register it with the Federal Election Commission. LO 9.3 To Learning Objectives

20. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Money and Campaigning The Proliferation of PACs (cont.) There were 4,611 PACs during the 2007– 2008 election cycle, which contributed $412.8 million to House and Senate candidates. PACs donate to candidates who support their issue. PACs do not buy candidates, but give to candidates who support them in the first place. LO 9.3 To Learning Objectives

21. LO 9.3 To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

22. Money and Campaigning Are Campaigns Too Expensive? Center for Responsive Politics estimated in 2008 that the contests for the presidency and Congress cost over $5 billion. More congressional incumbents spend, the worse they do. Doctrine of sufficiency – Spend enough money to get a message across to compete effectively. LO 9.3 To Learning Objectives

23. LO 9.3 To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

24. The Impact of Campaigns Campaigns have three effects on voters. Reinforcement – Reinforce voters’ preferences for candidates. Activation – Voters contribute money or ring doorbells. Conversion – Convert, changing voters’ minds. To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

25. The Impact of Campaigns Some factors tend to weaken campaigns’ impact on voters. Selective perception – Most people pay attention to things they agree with and interpret events according to predispositions. Party identification influence voting behavior. Incumbents – Advantage of name recognition and a track record. LO 9.4 To Learning Objectives

26. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman 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. LO 9.5 To Learning Objectives

27. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Understanding Nominations and Campaigns 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. LO 9.5 To Learning Objectives