Nominations, Elections, and Campaigns

1. Nominations, Elections, and Campaigns U3, C9

2. Nominations Distinguishing feature of nomination process in American party politics is usually involves an election by party voters (decentralization of American parties) Each state makes own laws governing process Congress and State Offices • Primary election: preliminary election conducted within party to select candidates • Only about half of regular party voters vote • Decline in competition for party nominations • Four major types of primary elections • Closed: Declare party affiliation • Open: Need not declare party affiliation • Modified closed: Individual state parties decide independent • Modified open: Independent voters vote in party’s primary

3. Nomination for President Presidential Primary: special primary held to select delegates to attend party’s national nominating convention Can be accomplished via an election or caucus/convention Proportional or winner-take-all Practice of front-loading; Super Tuesday Consequences • When no incumbent seeking reelection, process contested • Incumbent; little to no opposition • Iowa and New Hampshire do matter • Candidates usually favored by most party identifiers usually win nomination • Candidates who win owe little to national party organization

4. National Convention • Role of Conventions • System built entirely by two major parties • National committee makes arrangements for convention • Parties give each State party a certain number of delegate’s based on State’s electoral vote; bonus delegates • Goals • Name party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates • Bring various factions and leading personalities in the party together in one place for common purpose • Adopting party’s platform – formal statement of basic principles, stands on policies, objectives • Characteristics of Candidates • Political experience • Most Protestant • Most from larger states (television influence) • Pleasant and healthy appearance; happily married; attractive family • Speaking ability

5. Electoral College • Each State has as many electors as it has members of Congress • Federal election • “Rubber Stamp” • Electors chosen by popular vote in every state and on same day (Tuesday after the first Monday in November) • Winner-take-all (except Maine and Nebraska) • Electors meet in State capitols (Monday after Second Wednesday in December) • Signed and sealed votes sent to President of Senate • Formal election takes place on January 6 • If no majority (270), House of Representatives

6. Flaws Reforms Electoral College Winner of popular vote is not guaranteed presidency Electors are not required to vote in accord with popular vote (“faithless electors”) An election might have to be decided in House of Representatives District plan: electors would be chosen in each state in the same way as members of Congress Proportional plan: each presidential candidate would receive same share of a State’s electoral vote as he or she received in State popular vote Direct popular election National bonus plan

7. Campaigns Political Context • Structural factors: office candidate seeking and whether he or she is the incumbent • Characteristics of state or district • Party preferences of the electorate • Significant political factors Financing • Public financing vs. private financing • Reform Strategies and Tactics • Party-centered strategy • Issue-oriented strategy • Candidate-oriented strategy • Making the news and Advertising