Nominations and Campaigns

1. Nominations and Campaigns

2. The Perfect Candidate List all the characteristics of the Perfect Presidential Candidate

3. The Perfect Candidate The Things voters look for in a Presidential Candidate • Physical Appearance • Hair, Height, Photogenic • Male • Age (variable but important) • Government Experience • Governors do best historically • Near Moderate Range of views • But Not Wishy-Washy • Cannot alienate base

4. The Perfect Candidate The Things voters look for in a Presidential Candidate Clear Convictions To get the nomination – must be on left or right To please the public in general - Definitive position on certain issues Charisma Infectious Optimism Serious on issues but … Willing to laugh at self … But able to stand up against criticism

5. The Perfect Candidate Things that matter in winning Where you live Connections Related to the well-connected Harvard – Yale Council on Foreign Relations Large personal wealth Strong Organization Family Spouse, children, pet

6. Two Basic Types of Elections in the US 1. Primary Elections and Caucuses Video: Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions Members of the Party vote to determine who will be the candidate of the Party in the General Election. Almost all candidates chosen by Primary. In Presidential Primaries, delegates to the party’s National Convention are determined Types of Presidential Primaries: Open, Closed, Blanket http://www.co.gem.id.us/election/prior-elections/2008/2008-primary-sample.pdf

7. Caucus Meeting of all state party leaders for selecting delegates to national party convention Old -State parties select delegates to convention by caucus Control who went to convention and how delegates voted Today – open to all voters who are registered with party Organized like a pyramid 2. General Elections The general electorate votes to determine which of several candidates will hold office

8. Open or Closed?

9. Warm Up • 1. What is a caucus, and how does it work? • 2. What is a primary, and how does it work? • 3. Which is better? Why do you think so?h

10. Homework Reading • Pick up reading • After reading “My Vote Means Nothing,” summarize Greenberg’s arguments as to how the primary system has impacted elections. • What was the McGovern-Fraser Commission? Why was it created? What was the result?

11. The Nomination Decide to Run Compete for Delegates Win majority of delegates’ support at convention Role of National Convention Create party rules for next 4 years Choose nominees for President and VP and write platform How to become a delegate - varies by state Party Boss system Caucus system Primary system Superdelegate (Democratic party)

12. Selecting Delegates… Democrats Extra delegates to large states All states-proportional representation>15% of state vote-receive some delegates Republicans Extra delegates to loyal states Proportional representation, delegates to who wins each district and winner takes all

13. Alabama • Republican • Open Primary – Tuesday, Feb 5 • Delegate Selection – District: Winner-take-all; Statewide: Proportional • Democratic • Open Primary – Tuesday, Feb 5 • Delegate Selection – Proportional Primary • Sample ballot - http://www.co.baldwin.al.us/uploads/sample_ballot_Dem.pdf

14. Evaluating Primary/Caucuses Disproportionate attention goes to early caucuses/primaries: Iowa, New Hampshire-not representative of entire nation (??) Full time job to run for President-difficult to take time away Money Low participation in caucuses and primaries Too much power to the media

15. Iowa and New Hampshire

16. The Nomination 3. Convention A. Scripted – days B. Party platform C. Official nomination and VP - chosen

17. The Nomination Critique the current system of nomination Pros Tests the candidates with real people voting in primary states New Hampshire voters take their role and responsibility seriously Few presidential candidates win the presidency without also winning New Hampshire

18. The Nomination • Critique the current system of nomination • Cons • Disproportionate attention to early primaries and caucuses (275 Edwards) • Time consuming for candidates • Role of Money • Low participation, Unrepresentative • Front Loading • Media Power

19. Based on these maps, what can you inferabout frontloading and Super Tuesday?

20. Frontloading

21. Campaign

22. Parties Aim Their Campaigns to the Middle

23. Campaign Game 1. Media Coverage To get out the message and the image Free Coverage - The News Media events Staying on message Avoiding Gaffs Debates or Open Forums Paid Coverage Advertisements Print, Billboards,Yard Signs Electronic (Radio, Television, Internet) Bio- Issue- often funded by other groups, PACs

24. The Campaign Game Negative Ads • The public hate negative ads • Negative ads are effective • Public initial response • Delayed effect • Faulty memory How to limit effect of negative ads • Immediate response ads • The “high road” does not work • Dukakis in 1988

25. Negative CampaignReading Questions • Why does the author believe that negative campaigning may drive voters away? • Do you agree with this? • What are the positives to negative campaigning (if any)?

26. Warm Up • Political Cartoon

27. Cartoon 1

28. Cartoon 2

29. Question • What theme do these cartoons have in common? • What do they, when combined, tell us about elections in America?

30. Two Kinds of Campaign Issues: Position and Valence A Valence Issue is one on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party or candidate with conditions, goals, or symbols the electorate universally approves or disapproves of. Examples are economic prosperity and political corruption.

31. Two Kinds of Campaign Issues: Position and Valence A Position Issue is one on which the rival parties or candidates reach out for the support of the electorate by taking different positions on a policy question that divides the electorate. Example: Slavery or not

32. Impact of TV, Debates, and Direct Mail on Campaigns • Spots (paid advertising) can help little-known candidates become known • Voters get more information from spots than from news broadcasts • Visuals (news broadcasts) cost candidates nothing • Debates usually an advantage only to challenger; incumbent or frontrunner runs risk of gaffe • Direct Mail made easier by computers; mailings can be targeted; result in donations

33. Propaganda Techniques Labeling: Name calling. Ex. Un-American Glittering Generality:Vague or Broad Statements, containinglittle or no substance.

34. Card Stacking: Giving only one side of the facts to support a candidatesposition. Transfer:Associating a patrioticSymbol with a candidate.

35. Plain Folks: Identifying the candidate as just one of the common people. Testimonial: A celebrity endorses a candidate.

36. The Bandwagon: Urging voters to support a candidate because everyone else is.

37. Examples • 1. A candidate goes to a park and shoots baskets with a group of youngsters. • 2. “Any one who doesn’t support the invasion of Iraq is a Communist.” • 3. “We are keeping the information about the invasions secret in the interest of national security.” • 4. Lebron James is shown endorsing Nike shoes hoping you will buy the product because of him. • 5. A commercial claims you should drive a BMW because you will show class, style, and enjoy the luxury failing to mention the expensive purchase price and maintenance bill. • 6. A commercial shows a herd of elephants going to a car dealership because they don’t want to miss the good deals. • 7. A politician is shown during a commercial standing next to an American flag

38. The Campaign Game 2. Organize Campaign manager Fundraiser Campaign counsel Hire media and campaign consultants Assemble campaign staff Plan logistics Research staff and policy advisers Hire a pollster Press Secretary Website

39. Finance Reform • Handout • Pgs 200-208 Wilson • Pgs 284-288 Edwards • Chart and article • http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/us/politics/21money.html?_r=2&th&emc=th • http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/08/us/politics/DONATE.html?ref=politics

41. Money • http://www.hippocampus.org/AP%20Government%20and%20Politics • Handout • Federal Election Campaign Act 1974: • Reform following Watergate Scandal • Provisions: • 1. Created the Federal Election Commission • 2. Required full disclosure – over $100 • 3. No foreign contributions • 4. Limited contributions – individual 1,000 per candidate – will be raised • 5. Establish PAC – limit contributions • 6. Federal Matching Funds • Public funds come from the voluntary $3 check-off on your income taxes.

42. Money • 1976 Amendment – allowed corporations, labor unions, and special interests to set up political actions committees (PACs) to raise money for candidates • Limited to one PAC Buckley v. Valeo (1976) limited amount candidate could spend on his or her campaign was unconstitutional • Perot to spend over $60 million of his own fortune on his independent presidential candidacy in 1992 • John Kerry over $7 million in 2004

43. Money Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2002 (McCain Feingold) “Soft money”—unlimited contributions to party organizations, not candidates, can only be used for “party building” but really used to promote campaigns Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2002 – (McCain Feingold Act) 1. Soft money banned 2. Increased the amount that individuals could give to candidates - $1,000-$2,000 and indexed that latter amount to rise in the future with inflation 3. barred groups from running “issue ads” within 60 days of a general election if they refer to a federal candidate and are not funded through a PAC but 527 group loophole was exploited in 2004 election: http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/fecfeca.shtml#Commissioners

44. Money • Citizens United case • Outcome • Overturned ban on corporation and unions using own funds • Eliminated ban on electioneering communications within 30/60 days • Pros/Cons to Supreme Court decision

45. Money Advantages of incumbency 1. Well-known 2. Raise money 3. Free publicity 4. Credit claiming http://www.fec.gov/