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Learn about the nomination game in politics, including campaign strategies, the role of money, and media attention. Understand the nomination process, from national party conventions to caucuses and primaries. Discover the impact of campaigns and the importance of endorsements.
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The Nomination Game Nomination The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party. Success in the nomination game requires momentum, money, and media attention. Campaign Strategy Master game plan that guides a candidate’s electoral campaign. LO 9.1 To Learning Objectives
The Nomination Game Deciding to Run A presidential candidacy in the United States needs to be either announced or an “open secret” for at least a year before the election. Barack Obama made clear his intention to run for president in January 2007. LO 9.1 To Learning Objectives
Where are candidates chosen? • National Party Convention: • Delegates from each state elect candidate • SUPER DELEGATES: Party officials who get a vote (20%) • Delegates are chosen by a primary system • 2012 Conventions • Democrats-Charlotte, NC • Republicans-Tampa, Fl
Question • Would it be better to have a small group of very informed voters pick the candidates or have the candidates picked by every single possible voter? • Caucus • Primary
Competing for Delegates • Caucus - A system for selecting convention delegates used in about a dozen mostly rural states in which voters must show up at a set time and attend an open meeting to express their presidential preference. • Presidential primaries are elections in which a state’s voters go to the polls to express their preference for a party’s nominee for president.
Primary Terms • Binding and non-binding delegates • Types: Open, Closed, Blanket • Frontloading and Compression
9.1 FIGURE 9.1: A count of Clinton and Obama events during the 2008 nomination campaign
Criticisms • Uneven attention to early states • The process takes too long. • Too costly. • Low turnout. • Media and polls drive election.
The Campaign Game • The High-Tech Media Campaign • Direct mail used 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 • Establish a website
Money and Campaigning • The Maze of Campaign Finance Reforms • Federal Election Campaign Act (1974) • Created the FEC to administer campaign finance laws for federal elections. • Created the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. • Provided partial public financing for presidential primaries (matching funds). • Provided full public financing for major party candidates in the general election. • Required full disclosure. • Limited Contributions.
Money and Campaigning • The Decline in Income Tax Check-Off Participation for Federal Financing of Campaigns (Figure 9.3)
9.3 Figure 9.2: How Obama raised more campaign money by declining federal funds
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. • As of 2004 there were 3,868 PACs. • PACs contributed over $258 million to congressional candidates in 2002. • Donate to candidates who support their issue, regardless of party affiliation • Not sufficient data that PACs “buy” candidates
527 groups • New route for soft money • Independent expenditures • Endorsements forbidden
Money and Campaigning • Soft Money • Contributions (with no limits) used for party-building expenses or generic party advertising • McCain-Feingold Act (2002) banned soft money, increased amount individuals can contribute, and limited “issue ads”. • Citizens United- Supreme court ruled that corporations and unions can give direct donations. • 501(c)-Unlimited anonymous contributions as long as less than half spent on political activ. • SUPER PACS- Can raise unlimited amount of money to support a candidate but not give directly to candidate.
9.3 TABLE 9.1: Biggest 10 Super PAC donations in 2012
Money and Campaigning • Are Campaigns Too Expensive? • Fund raising takes up lots of time. • Incumbents do worse when they spend more money because they need it when they face tough challengers. • The doctrine of sufficiency suggests that candidates need just “enough” money to win, not necessarily “more.”
The Impact of Campaigns • Campaigns have three effects on voters: • 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
