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CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 14. The Campaign Process. Nomination Process. Once a candidate declares his/her intention to run their focus is on winning the nomination of their party A candidate needs to be mindful of not pandering to the extremists in the party to win the nomination. General Election.

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CHAPTER 14

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  1. CHAPTER 14 The Campaign Process

  2. Nomination Process • Once a candidate declares his/her intention to run their focus is on winning the nomination of their party • A candidate needs to be mindful of not pandering to the extremists in the party to win the nomination.

  3. General Election • Candidates have an incentive to move their positions on political issues to the ideological center. • The length of time between the nomination process and general election varies depending on the state.

  4. Campaign Staff • Campaign manager-travels with the candidate and coordinates the campaign • Communications director-develops the overall media strategy for the campaign • Pollster- consultant who conducts public opinion surveys

  5. Raising Money • FECA (1974)- Federal Election Campaign Act: 1st broad attempt at campaign finance regulation. • Established: • 1) disclosure requirements (hard $) • 2) Presidential Public Funding Program • 3) Federal Election Commission (FEC)- agency that enforces election laws

  6. CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM • 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act • (McCain Feingold) • Banned soft money directly to a candidate *unlimited amounts of money that can be given to a political party so long as that candidate is not named. Sharply restricted independent expenditures- corporations, unions and other groups can’t advertise referring to a candidate by name 30 days before a primary and 60 days before a general election.

  7. Citizens United v FEC (2010) • Struck down the restrictions on independent expenditures as a violation of the 1st amendment. • This led to record spending in the 2010 election cycle by corporations and special interests.

  8. Money in Electoral Campaigns • President gets money from private and public funds from general tax revenues during the nomination process. • Congress gets private money. • Federal restrictions: • $2400 limit for individual contributions • $5000 limit for PAC contribution

  9. Political Action Committees (PACS) • PAC Requirements • 1) At least 50 voluntary members • 2) Give to at least 5 federal candidates • 3) limited to $5000 per election per candidate.

  10. Buckley v Valeo (1976) • The government cannot limit the amount of money candidates spend on their own family’s resources. • This decision was based on a candidates 1st Amendment right of free speech.

  11. WHY INCUMBENTS WIN? • Name recognition • Constituent service • Easier to raise money • Assignments on committees that serve their constituents • Free Press • Take credit for anything positive that has happened. Blame Washington (or prez) for anything bad that has occurred. • FRANKING PRIVILEGE

  12. CAMPAIGNS • Campaigns are extremely expensive. • Most campaigns are now concentrated on the media. • Negative ads work, that’s why they use them.

  13. CAMPAIGNS • Incumbents are rarely challenged in a primary election. • A primary election is an election to nominate a candidate for office, has a low voter turnout.

  14. Types of Primaries • Closed primaries are most common, you must belong to a party to participate in primary. • Open primaries allow any registered voter to participate.

  15. Most important thing to campaign is name recognition, most get known to be chosen. • Open seat is an election where there is no incumbent. Parties stay out of primary until a winner is chosen, then they put their support fully behind the nominee.

  16. MIDTERM ELECTIONS • Presidential races are much more competitive than House races, the winning margins are more narrow. • Midterm Election is an election that occurs every two years in a non-presidential election year. • Turnout much lower • All Congressmen up for reelection (435 seats) • 1/3 of Senators up for reelection • President coattails not as great

  17. Congressional Breakdown • Each state has 2 Senators • House seats set at 435 • Number per state determined by population • Dispersion changes every 10 years with National Census. • Florida has enjoyed the greatest jump in representation due to the last 2 counts.

  18. DRAWING DISTRICTS • The State Legislature is responsible for redrawing the district lines if the census causes a state to gain or lose a seat in the House. • Gerrymandering – boundaries drawn to favor one party rather than another resulting in odd-shaped districts. This is unconstitutional. • Malapportionment- districts are drawn w/ very different populations. Illegal. Baker v Carr (1962)

  19. Nominating a President • 1st Iowa Caucus – Party leaders meet to select candidate • Caucus may pick more ideological candidates. • 2nd New Hampshire Primary – Voters choose favorite candidate • Almost all states have primaries

  20. PARTY CONVENTION • Party convention is where the candidate is officially nominated as presidential candidate for party. • Every 4 years receive delegates to make it official. • National chair- controls party convention. • Each convention sets party platform for upcoming four years.

  21. Campaigns • Campaign is dominated by television. • Debates really don’t make a difference unless a candidate really screws up. • This is referred to as the gaffe problem- President Ford

  22. Electoral College • Winner take all in each state – you receive more votes in a state, you win all the electoral votes for that state. • You need a majority of electoral votes to win the presidency. • Total electoral votes is 538, but 270 would be the majority. • The electoral college vote makes the margin of victory seem larger than it really is.

  23. No Electoral Winner • 12th Amendment – creates separate elections for the president and vice president. • If no candidate wins 270 votes • Presidential race goes to House, each state gets a vote, 26 votes wins. • Vice President races goes to Senate, each senator gets a vote, 51 votes wins.

  24. WHO WINS AND WHY • The most recognized with the most money raised and is an incumbent wins. • Party affiliation still #1 reason why you vote for someone. • Democrats have larger numbers, should win, but Republicans have higher turnout and get more independent voters.

  25. WHO DECIDES ELECTIONS? • Party ID still #1 • Democrats have more registered voters • Republicans have higher turnout. • GOP does better among independents • People change parties when their interests change.

  26. What decides elections? • 1) strength of economy. • 2) popularity of candidate. • 3) party loyalty and ideology. • In Congressional campaigns: • District lines and who is included and excluded in the district.

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