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Nominations and Campaigns

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:

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Nominations and Campaigns

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  1. Nominations and Campaigns Chapter 9

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. The Nomination Game The Perception of Iowa and New Hampshire Figure 9.1

  8. 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.

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. Money and Campaigning From Table 9.1

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. Internet Resources • Federal Election Commission • Center for Responsive Politics • Campaigns and Elections magazine • Klipsan Election notes

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