American Government and Organization

1. American Government and Organization PS1301 Friday, 10 October

2. Quiz • Should the Electoral College be Reformed? If so why? If not why not? • Identify and discuss two possible reforms to the Electoral College. What are their advantages/disadvantages?

3. Public Support for Reforming the Electoral College • Eliminate Electoral College -- 52% • Allocates Electoral College votes based on the popular vote in Congressional districts - 46% agreed with this change • Note: National survey conducted March 26, 2001 to April 9,2001. There were 1500 respondents to the survey, which was a random-digit dialing telephone survey conducted by professional interviewers from Interviewing Services of America, Inc.

4. The Road to the White House

5. Presidential Nominations before 1972 • Delegates sent to conventions were picked by sate and local party leaders • This gave party officials, rather than voters, direct control over who would run for president under the party’s banner • The Conventions were often a mystery as candidates bargained and built coalitions among the party elite in their attempts to win the support of a majority of delegates.

6. Impact of Reforms • Process of nominating candidates is now more “candidate centered” rather than “party centered”.

7. Methods of Selecting Presidential Delegates • Caucuses • Party members meet in small groups to select the party’s delegates to the national convention • Closed primary • Only a party’s registered voters • Open primary • Independents and sometimes members of the other party • Blanket primary • Voters are permitted to vote in either party’s primary (but not both) on an office by office basis

8. How States Vary in Selecting Delegates

9. Front loading • 70% of all delegates are chosen before the end of March • Benefits the front runner • Benefits the candidate who can raise the bulk of the money before the nomination process • Increases the importance of the “invisible primary”—the year prior to the official nomination season when candidates raise money

10. JANUARY 19, 2004:Iowa - Presidential Caucuses JANUARY 27, 2004:New Hampshire - Presidential Primary FEBRUARY 3, 2004:Arizona - Presidential PrimaryDelaware - Presidential PrimaryMissouri - Presidential PrimaryNew Mexico - Presidential CaucusesOklahoma - Presidential PrimarySouth Carolina - Presidential Primary FEBRUARY 7, 2004:Michigan - Presidential CaucusesWashington State - Democratic Presidential Caucuses FEBRUARY 8, 2004:Maine - Presidential Caucuses FEBRUARY 10, 2004:District of Columbia - Democratic Presidential CaucusesTennessee - Presidential PrimaryVirginia - Democratic Presidential Primary FEBRUARY 17, 2004:Wisconsin - Presidential Primary Beginning Schedule in 2004

11. Deck is stacked against challengers • Half of the Republican delegates awarded after the first six weeks. • News coverage and public interest fades shortly after the primary season begins

12. Public Interest in the 2000 Presidential Election

13. Impact of New Hampshire Primary • Momentum • Depends on expectations • Example of Bill Clinton in 1992 • McCain in 2000 • Compact schedule (front loading) can kill the momentum from New Hampshire

14. News Coverage

15. Impact of New Hampshire Primary

16. Opinion about the Candidates

17. Republican Schedule in 2000

18. Delegate Selection Rules