1. Party Conventions Republican National Convention, Chicago, 1880.

2. The Party Convention National conventions date to 1830s ◦First “open” convention – Jackson & Democrats Historically ◦Provide excitement & nomination of party’s candidates for pres. & VP ◦1924 Democratic Convention took 103 ballots to choose candidates ◦Since 1952: both parties have selected candidates on first ballot Convention proceedings to catch attention of electorate include: ◦Rules and credential debates ◦Keynote speeches ◦Platform debates ◦Nomination of presidential candidate ◦Selection of running mate ◦Acceptance speeches

3. Rule and Credential Disputes Lead to party fights 1952 Republican Convention ◦Senator Robert Taft given majority of Southern delegates by RNC ◦Eisenhower’s supporters forced floor fight & overturned that decision ◦Ike gets nomination 1972 Democratic Convention ◦McGovern Commission rules were supposed to create fairer representation of minorities ◦2 key votes gave McGovern nomination  McGovern received all of CA’s delegates  Denying Chicago Mayor Daley representation

4. 1976 Republican Convention ◦Rules debate forced by Reagan supporters attempted to force apparent nominee, Gerald Ford to announce choice for VP before balloting began ◦Convention voted against rule change ◦Ford got nomination 1980 Democratic Convention ◦Ted Kennedy tried to change rules that required delegates pledged to a candidate to vote for that candidate on the 1 st ballot  Hoped some of Carter’s supporters would defect ◦Convention defeated the change ◦Carter received the nomination

5. Platform Fights The platform is the statement of party values and goals for the election ◦Provide public debates & philosophical arguments could affect the party  1948: fight over civil rights led Southern Democrats to walk out – create Dixiecrats  1964: Goldwater conservatives were in control of platform & refused to make concessions to moderates in areas of civil rights  1968: arguments over Vietnam split the Democrats, hurt Humphrey’s chances against Nixon

6. Can be used to ameliorate political relations 1976: Ford agreed to concessions to Reagan’s views on détente 1980: Carter allowed Kennedy's supporters to add a job program to the platform To avoid televised platform controversy in 1996 & 2000, both parties reached consensus on touchy issues prior to the start of the convention But party platforms usually fade into woodwork after the convention

7. Speeches Politicians giving nominating speeches can vault them into their own candidacy ◦2004 – Barack Obama’s keynote  2008 candidacy ◦1956 – JFK’s nomination speech  1960

8. Not all speeches bring positive effects ◦1988 – Clinton’s long nomination of Dukakis  has to promise to keep it under control when he runs in 1992 ◦1992 – Patrick Buchanan and Pat Robertson speeches  some Americans felt Republicans giving too much influence to conservatives & religious right

9. Balloting Follows keynote and nomination speeches In recent years has been a formality ◦But tactics used by frontrunner’s opponents can put nomination in doubt  (Think about Gingrich’s promise to carry his campaign to the convention to launch a direct challenge to Mitt Romney)

10. Selecting the VP Since 1940 precedent: presidential nominees choose their running mates Philosophy in choosing your running mate: ◦Balancing the ticket  JFK & LBJ; Carter & Mondale; ◦Paying off a political debt ◦Elevating a person, minority group  Mondale & Ferraro ◦Break the rules – choose someone unexpected  Unexpected region: ◦ Clinton & Gore  Unexpected religion ◦ Gore & Lieberman  Opposite ideologically ◦ Obama & Biden  Unknown individual ◦ McCain & Palin Now you need to paint a picture of party unity

11. Micromanaging the Convention 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, both parties ran the most tightly-controlled political conventions since the start of TV coverage ◦Orchestrated themes ◦Highly scheduled  http://www.gopconvention2012.com/ http://www.gopconvention2012.com/  http://charlottein2012.com/ http://charlottein2012.com/ ◦Chose keynote speakers & “prime-time” dignitaries ◦Criticism from media, but both parties believed they had put best foot forward

12. http://www.gop.com/2008Platform/ http://www.democrats.org/about/party_pl atform http://www.democrats.org/about/party_pl atform http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/presid ent/issues/party-platforms/index.html http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/presid ent/issues/party-platforms/index.html