Nominations and Campaigns

Chapter 9

The Nomination Game

 Nomination: – The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party. Generally, success requires momentum, money, and media attention.

 Campaign Strategy: – The master plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign.

The Nomination Game

 Deciding to Run – Other countries have short campaigns generally less than 2 months.

– U.S. campaigns (especially for President) can last 18 months or more.

– Generally need to start out with an electoral base already established.

The Nomination Game

 Competing for Delegates – The Caucus Road  Caucus: Meetings of party leaders. Used to selected delegates.

 Now organized like a pyramid from local precincts to the state’s convention.

 Not used by many states.

 Iowa’s is considered the most important.

The Nomination Game

 Competing for Delegates – The Primary Road  Primary: Elections in which voters choose the nominee or delegates pledged to the nominee.

 Started by turn of the century reformers.

 Most states use one of the forms of a primary.

 Many primaries are early- with New Hampshire being the first.

 Generally serve as elimination contests.

The Nomination Game

 Competing for Delegates – Evaluating the Primary and Caucus System  Disproportionate attention to the early ones.

 Prominent politicians find it difficult to make time to run.

 Money plays too big a role.

 Participation in primaries and caucuses is low and unrepresentative.

 The system gives too much power to the media.

The Nomination Game

The Perception of Iowa and New Hampshire Figure 9.1

The Nomination Game

 The Convention Send-off – Once provided great drama, but now they are a basic formality- which means less TV time.

– Are still important to the party to get organized and motivated.

– Party platform: Statement of its goals and policies and general beliefs.

– Official nominations and candidate speeches.

The Campaign Game

 The High-Tech Media Campaign – Use of direct mail to generate support and money for the candidate – – Get media attention through ad budget and “free” coverage Emphasis on “marketing” a candidate – News focuses on strategies and events, not on policies

The Campaign Game

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

Money and Campaigning

 The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms – FEC: Created by law in 1974 to administer campaign finance laws for

federal

elections.

 Public financing of presidential elections  Limited spending & required disclosure  Limited contributions to campaigns – Soft Money  Contributions (with no limits) used for party building expenses or generic party advertising

Money and Campaigning

 The Proliferation of PACs – Definition: Created by law in 1974 to allow corporations, labor unions and others to donate money to campaigns.

– Over 3900 PACs donating over $212 million – – Donate to candidates who support their issue, regardless of party afiliation Not sufficient data that PACs “buy” candidates

Money and Campaigning

Microsoft Philip Morris Am Fed of State Empl Comm. workers of Am NRA Emily’s List $ given 3,942,435 2,830,985 6,500,889 3,687,614 2,884,127 1,979,829 From Table 9.1

% to Rep 53 80 1 1 92 0

Money and Campaigning

 Are Campaigns Too Expensive?

– Fund raising takes up lots of time.

– The closer the race, the more money is needed.

 Does Money Buy Victory?

– – Too much money can be worse than not enough.

But, candidates need “enough” money to win

The Impact of Campaigns

 Campaigns are perceived as doing: – Reinforcement, Activation, Conversion  Mostly, they only reinforce & activate – Selective perception: pay attention to things we agree with.

– Party identification still has an affect – Incumbents start with a substantial advantage

Understanding Nominations and Campaigns

 Are Nominations and Campaigns Too Democratic?

– – Campaigns are open to almost everyone But they are time and money consuming  Do Big Campaigns Lead to an Increased Scope of Government?

– They involve lots of communication – Hard to be all things to all people

Internet Resources

 Federal Election Commission  Center for Responsive Politics 

Campaigns and Elections

magazine  Klipsan Election notes