CAMPAIGNS

1. CAMPAIGNS Or, HOW TO SUCCEED IN POLITICS.

2. The Nomination Game • A nomination is the party’s official endorsement of a candidate who will seek political office. • Success in the nomination game generally requires money, media attention, and momentum. Candidates attempt to manipulate each of these elements through campaign strategy.

3. The nominating stage is important in the electoral process mostly because nominations set real limits to the choices voters can make.

4. Deciding to run • Unlike Britain--where campaigns are limited by law to 5 weeks--a presidential candidacy in the U.S. needs to be announced or an “open secret” at least a year before the election.

5. Sometimes some candidates decide not to run and others benefit (‘92 election).

6. Presidential candidates need to be risk-takers; they need enough self-confidence to put it all on line in pursuit of the presidency. • They need an electoral base from which to begin. • Most presidential candidates of major parties hold a key political office before seeking the office.

7. Competing for delegates • The goal of the nomination game is to win the majority of the delegates’ support at the national convention. • From January to June in an election year, the individual state parties choose their delegates to the convention through caucuses or primaries.

8. At one time, all states selected their delegates in a meeting of state party leaders, called a caucus. A caucus is a private meeting of political party members to do a variety of things including the selecting of delegates. • Today, caucuses are open to all voters who are registered with the party. The Democrats also have strict rules of representation.

9. As a nominating device, the caucus was replaced by the convention. • Only a few states hold caucuses today, and the earliest is held in Iowa.

10. Caucus Pyramidal Structure • The basic unit is the precinct. Each precinct has 1 polling place and is about 1,000 voters. • Precinct-level caucuses choose delegates (based on their preference for a certain candidate) to attend county caucuses and then congressional district party caucuses, where delegates are finally chosen for the state convention. • At the state convention, delegates to the national convention are chosen.

11. Presidential Primaries

12. Today, most of the delegates to the national conventions are selected in presidential primaries, in which voters in a state go to the polls and vote for a candidate or for delegates pledged to a candidate.

13. The primary season begins in the winter in New Hampshire. At this early stage, the campaign is not for delegates but for images. A primary in which candidates are not labeled by political party is known as a nonpartisan primary (mostly, city elections). • http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/early-new-hampshire-primary-could-backfire-on-romney/?partner=rss&emc=rss

14. In 1988, the southern states (feeling that northern states like New Hampshire had too much influence in the choice of Democratic nominees) staged Super Tuesday by moving all their primaries to the same day in early March (it actually happened first in 1984 with 3 Super Tuesdays). This created a regional primary. Gore and Jackson split them, but Dukakis would ultimately win. • On February 5, 2008 we had a Super Duper Tuesday as 20 states scheduled their primary or caucus then.

15. Each state sets up its own rules for how delegates are allocated. • Primaries serve as elimination contests. Candidates who lose early see their money-raising abilities dry up. • Candidates want to build momentum, but that is no guarantee of victory. • Presidential elections are held in November on the first Tuesday following the first Monday of every 4th year.

16. An open primary is a primary election in which a voter may vote for the nomination of any candidate regardless of party affiliation. A year ago June (2010) California passed an initiative to amend our state constitution to authorize an open primary. • In a closed primary a voter must declare a party affiliation and vote only for that party’s ballot.

17. Why closed primaries? • It makes candidates more responsive to the party. • It discourages “raiding” by non-party members. • It forces voters to be thoughtful and choose between parties.

18. Primary and Caucus Criticisms • Too much attention to early caucuses/primaries. Media attention distorts campaign. (However, in Smith v. Allwright it was held that primaries are an “integral part of the election process.” • Running for president is a full-time job. • Money plays too big a role. • Presidential primary voter turnout is extremely low (20%). • Too much media power.

19. Proposals • National Primary--length and cost of campaign would be reduced and it would be more simple and direct. • Critics charge that underdogs would never win. • Regional primaries that occur week after week. Critics say an advantage goes to the first region.

20. The “drama” has now been drained from conventions, as the winner is a foregone conclusion. • Today’s conventions are carefully scripted so the party is shown in the best light. No one wants the ‘64 GOP or ‘68/’72 Demo conventions repeated. • Conventions are also important for developing a party’s platform.

21. Convention Organization • First-day highlight is the keynote speech. • Second day centers on the party platform. • The presidential candidate is chosen by roll-call vote of the states, followed by nomination and seconding speeches. • The vice-presidential nominee is chosen on the final day by roll-call vote. Then, the acceptance speeches by both are the supposed highlights of the convention (Don’t pull a McGovern).

22. THE CAMPAIGN GAME • Television is the most prevalent means used by candidates to reach voters. • Most of the money spent on presidential campaigns is spent on media. • 99% of US homes have a TV and watch at least 4 hours a day. • Visual nature of TV makes its messages more powerful.

23. Money is an indispensable campaign resource because it allows candidates to make themselves known to the public. For that reason, among others, presidential campaigns now are organized and conducted largely by the candidates’ own personal political organization, rather than the national party organization.

24. Use of Direct Mail enables candidates to send info and money requests to individuals culled from lists of people who have supported candidates of similar views. • Internet campaign sites, social networking, and YouTube are some of the other technological advances candidates use.

25. Candidates have delivered their messages by speaking to large crowds, whistle-stop tours, tree stumps, soapboxes, and shouting in town squares. • Television is the modern-day tree stump.

27. Hire campaign manager. Have fund-raisers. Hire campaign counsel. Hire media and campaign consultants. Assemble campaign staff. Plan logistics. Get research staff/policy advisors. Hire pollster. Hire a good press secretary. Campaign Organization

28. Campaign Funding • Two sources: private contributions and public treasury. • Private givers: Candidates, individual citizens, PACs, and temporary campaign organizations. Major source of funding.

29. PACs, which can be formed from interest groups, have increased in numbers in recent years, but can give according to the following FEC guidelines: • http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/fecfeca.shtml#Contribution_Limits • If a candidate accepts public money, then there are campaign spending limits.

30. Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 • Bipartisan Federal Election Commission created to administer campaign finance laws. • Provides public financing for primaries and general elections. • Limits established for campaign spending. • Candidates file public disclosure reports. • Limited contributions--individuals only $2,500 per election ($1,000 originally); $30,800 to national party. • Only concerned with presidential campaigns.

31. Buckley v. Valeo • The constitutionality of the act was challenged and struck down the portion that limited the amount individuals could contribute to their own campaigns. • Contributions=Free Speech.

32. This enabled Ross Perot to spend $50 million of his own money on his own independent presidential bid in 1992.

33. Soft Money • In 1979, an amendment to the Act made it easier for political parties to raise money. • They may spend the money on party activities, but not on a specific candidate. However, there is always a way--just make and ad and don’t mention the name--just infer it or attack the competition. • WIKI link for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_finance_in_the_United_States

34. Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 • Banned “soft money” contributions. • Must receive contributions from “hard money”--individual donations and PAC donations. • Limit raised from $1000 to $2000 per candidate per election. • “Independent expenditures” by corporations, labor unions, and trade associations are restricted. 60 days before a general election and 30 days before a primary no ads for a federal candidate can be made by these groups. • Center for Responsive Politics • http://www.opensecrets.org/

35. 527’s • Always looking for a loophole, the IRS provided the opportunity. Named after a provision of the code, 527 organizations can spend money on politics without any restrictions. FECA does not regulate these groups. • http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527indivs.php?cycle=2008

36. CITIZENS UNITED V. FEC • On January 21, 2010 in a 5-4 decision the Supreme Court held that it was permitted to make unlimited campaign donations by unions and corporations. This revised McCain-Feingold. • Washington Post poll results shown to the right (Feb. 8, 2010). It showed that 80% of Americans opposed the decision.