Nominations and CampaignChapter 9

Presidential Campaign

Nomination Game Nomination = official endorsement of a

candidate for office by political party Requires momentum, money, media attention

Campaign strategy = how candidate manipulate money, media attention, and momentum to achieve a “win”

Running for President U.S. v. other nations Time and money needed to compete

Open Secrets

The Nomination Game

Deciding to Run Campaigns are more physically and emotionally

taxing than ever. American campaigns are much longer.

Barack Obama made clear his intention to run for president in January 2007.

Other countries have short campaigns, generally less than two months.

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The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates

Nomination game is an elimination contest Goal is to win a majority of delegates’ support at the

national party convention, or the supreme power within each of the parties The convention meets every four years to nominate the

party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Conventions are but a formality today.

The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates

The Caucus Road Caucus: meetings of state party leaders for selecting delegates

to the national convention Organized like a pyramid from local precincts to the state’s

convention A handful of states use a caucus—open to all voters who are

registered with a party The Iowa caucus is first and most important.

The Nomination Game Competing for Delegates

The Primary Road Primary: elections in which voters in a state vote for a

nominee (or delegates pledged to the nominee) Began at turn of 20th century by progressive reformers McGovern-Fraser Commission led to selection of delegates

through primary elections Most delegates are chosen through primaries. Superdelegates: democratic leaders who automatically get a

delegate slot Frontloading is the tendency of states to hold primaries early

to capitalize on media attention. New Hampshire is first. Generally primaries serve as elimination contests.

The Nomination Game

Competing for Delegates Evaluating the Primary and Caucus System

Disproportionate attention to early ones Prominent politicians do not run. Money plays too big a role. Participation in primaries and caucuses is low and

unrepresentative; 20 percent vote in primaries. The system gives too much power to the media.

The Nomination Game

Frontloading McGovern – Fraser Commission

Open delegate selection Primary election for delegates

Superdelegates: democratic leaders who automatically get a delegate slot Created in 1984 15% of delegates slots are reserved for Party

leaders

Allocation Proportional representation = democrats Winner take all or States decide = republicans

Evaluation of the system Disproportionate Time Money Participation of voters Media

The Nomination Game

The Convention Send-off National conventions once provided great

drama, but now are a formality, which means less TV time.

Significant rallying point for parties Key note speaker on first day of Convention Party platform: statement of a party’s goals

and policies for next four years Debated on the second day of the Convention

Formal nomination of president and vice-president candidates on third and fourth days

The Nomination Game

The Campaign Game

Technology Dependence on technology for possible win Voters are able to travel with candidate “horse race” vs. policy issues

Money and Campaign

“Money is the mother’s milk of politics” Money buys votes and influence

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The Campaign Game

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

The Campaign Game

Organizing the Campaign Get a campaign manager Get a fund-raiser and campaign counsel Hire media and campaign consultants Assemble staff and plan logistics Get research staff, policy advisors, and pollsters Get a good press secretary Establish a website

Campaign Finance Reforms 1974 Federal Election Campaign Act

Federal Election Committee Administers the campaign finance laws and enforces

compliance with their requirements Presidential Election Campaign Fund Public financing (during primaries)

Matching funds: Contributions of up to $250 are matched for candidates who meet conditions, such as limiting spending

Public funding during general election Disclosure

Reports must be filled with FEC

Buckley v. Valeo (1976) It is unconstitutional to limits the money individuals

could contribute to their own campaign

Soft Money money contributed to organizations and committees

other than candidate campaigns and political parties that engage in political activity, but it may not be spent for ads specifically promoting the election or defeat of a candidate.

McCain – Feingold Act (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act - BCRA 2002) Banned soft money Increased individual contribution form $1000 to

$2000 (plus provided raising the index created by inflation)

Banned groups from running “issue ads” within 60 days from general election

McConell v. FEC 2003 "money, like water, will always find an outlet” – Sandra

O ’Connor Restriction of free speech

527 groups Independent groups seeking to influence the political

process but are not subject to contribution restrictions FEC restriction = no explicit endorsement

Citizens United v FEC2010 corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in

candidate elections cannot be limited Upheld the disclosure requirements for political advertising

sponsors and it upheld the ban on direct contributions to candidates from corporations and unions

PAC’s Political Action committees

Corporations, unions, or some other interest groups PACs donate to candidates who support their issue. PACs do not “buy” candidates, but give to candidates who

support them in the first place

FEC Website

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Money and Campaigning

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Money and Campaigning

Are Campaigns Too Expensive? Time. Incumbents

Campaigns have three effects on voters: Reinforcement, Activation, Conversion

Several factors weaken campaigns’ impact on voters: Selective perception Party identification still influence voting behavior Incumbents begin with sizeable advantage

Understanding Nominations and Campaigns

Impact on democracy Voice of citizens Permanent campaign Length Individualism

Scope of government Battle between states Special interest

Summary

Campaigns are media-oriented and expensive.

Delegates are selected through caucuses and primaries.

Money and contributions from PACs regulated by the FEC are essential to campaigns.

Campaigns reinforce perceptions but do not change minds.