Look Here

Declaring candidacy Experience and background:

usually U.S. Congress or state governor [exec. office], or war hero

Party affiliation – major parties have all the advantages Party will often indentify

members to run Base of party loyalists Party apparatus for support –

contacts, stumping and $$$$

CanvassingCanvassing

Party nomination - First major goal – means running against other members of the same party Speaking – message, recognition,

finding/portraying distinctives Looking for support from interested groups – MONEY, public backing

Fund raising – constantly [why?] Polling – likely voters, issue resonance

Crisscrossing the country Hitting the big states Not appearing to ignore the small ones

CampaigningCampaigning

A A primaryprimary or or caucuscaucus is a state-wide is a state-wide election WITHIN the partyelection WITHIN the party

It determines which It determines which candidatecandidate the the state’s party members prefer to state’s party members prefer to run for presidentrun for president

It’s divisive – hurts party unityIt’s divisive – hurts party unity Winning primaries = # Winning primaries = # delegatesdelegates at at

the national the national party convention party convention – the – the one with the most gets one with the most gets nominatednominated as the party candidateas the party candidate

Primaries are either open or closed:Primaries are either open or closed: OpenOpen- voters may vote in either party - voters may vote in either party

primaryprimary ClosedClosed- voters may only vote in their - voters may only vote in their

party’s primary [NC]party’s primary [NC] Increasingly, states are lining up Increasingly, states are lining up

near the first of the year – it turns near the first of the year – it turns into a into a horse race horse race for delegates, for delegates, recognition as a “winner” and, recognition as a “winner” and, thus, moneythus, money

Several members of the party will Several members of the party will declare candidacy and begin declare candidacy and begin campaignscampaigns

First First primariesprimaries will convince some will convince some to drop outto drop out

Next primaries will weed out more Next primaries will weed out more as they fail to win and lose support as they fail to win and lose support and money. Most will “throw” their and money. Most will “throw” their support [support [$$]] to a surviving to a surviving candidatecandidate

One candidate will have the most One candidate will have the most party party delegatesdelegates by convention by convention timetime

Party conventionParty convention will formally will formally nominate the party’s official nominate the party’s official candidate for president.candidate for president.

The two party nominees will now The two party nominees will now run against each other.run against each other.

One wins the One wins the general electiongeneral election and and becomes Presidentbecomes President

Democratic nomineeDemocratic nomineeRepublican Republican

nomineenominee

President-President-electelect

Big “group hug” to reestablish party unityBig “group hug” to reestablish party unity Writing the party platform Writing the party platform [campaign format as well][campaign format as well] Formal nomination Formal nomination [already known from primaries][already known from primaries]

Kick off of campaign against other partyKick off of campaign against other party

Advantages of the incumbent Already known with a track record Easier to raise $$ as contributors go with a “known winner” Biggest contributions from individuals and PACs - fundraising

organizations for business groups and unions Federal Election Commission limited campaign contributions Buckley v. Valeo (1976) determined that campaign spending

is a form of speech, not subject to limitations Soft money: funds that cannot be used for a specific, named

campaign, but can be used to support a party or attack the opposition. Ended with McCain-Feingold in 2002 [Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act]

Mobilizing the party and voters Campaign staff of paid professionals and LOTS of unpaid

volunteers Professional staff makes plans, formulates strategy and advises

the candidate [top people often end up in the administration] Volunteers man phones, stuff envelopes, put up posters,

canvass precincts and wards, etc. Canvassing: phone and door-to-door to elicit support, $$

contributions and “get out the vote” Lots of money needed for polling, advertising, mailing, travel, etc. Trend is that the candidate that spends the most wins.

Remember incumbent advantages? Polling: usually carried out by professional polling firms

[expensive]. Carefully constructed sample of 1500 people are asked questions ,

looking for… [sample includes most all demographics; accurate to 3 points]

How people likely to vote [party faithful, 72 hr. undecideds, etc.] How candidate/party’s stand on issues resonates with potential voters

Projecting an image Many appearances and speeches – absolutely exhausting! Focus on battleground states [polling indicates vote will be

close, esp. if state has a good chunk of electoral votes at stake] Use of propaganda – images, catch phrases, etc. [“Hope,” “Yes

we can!” “Change” – just plain folks, name-calling “My opponent is soft on crime!”]

Televised debates [began in 1960]. Many undecided voters will choose candidate based on debate impressions of who “won”

Reminder: most of this is orchestrated and shaped by the campaign staff

General Election 1st Tues. after first Mon. in November every four years News sources kinda hold off predictions until bulk of west coast votes are in 270 electoral votes needed to win – results often come in late at night President-elect now has about 2 months to get his basic admin. together to

take office in Jan. - just no rest!

Nixon – Kennedy Nixon – Kennedy debatedebate