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Elections and Campaigns

Elections and Campaigns. Presidential Elections. Exploration Announcement/Press Conference Money, Organization, Strategy and Themes Primary Elections and caucuses: closed, open and blanket primaries Nominating Conventions Campaigning and the General Election

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Elections and Campaigns

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  1. Elections and Campaigns

  2. Presidential Elections • Exploration • Announcement/Press Conference • Money, Organization, Strategy and Themes • Primary Elections and caucuses: closed, open and blanket primaries • Nominating Conventions • Campaigning and the General Election • The Electoral College (270 electoral votes needed to win)

  3. General Characteristics of Running for Federal Office • Congress has a 93% incumbency rate • Safe districts • House seats are less contested than Senate or Governor • The coattail effect • Technology has caused all campaigns to go up in cost • Campaigns are now concentrated on media • Negative campaigns attacking opponent work more often than not

  4. House and Senate Elections • Incumbents rarely challenged in primaries • Open seats – must have personal money, organization, timing, consultants • Name recognition and high visibility are the keys to success • Why do incumbents win??? • Franking privilege • Constituent service • Free press coverage • Seniority and “plums” of committee assignments • Senate elections are more visible, more expensive

  5. Campaign Finance Reform • Federal Elections Campaign Act (FECA) 1974: • There are federal matching funds if candidate receives at least 5% of the votes cast • $1,000 limit for individuals • $5,000 limit for corporations • $25,000 limit for all campaigns for all individuals • Buckley v. Valeo 1976 • Spending limits established by FECA were unconstitutional and violated the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of expression • Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act (BRCA) • Banned the use of “soft” money and increasing the 1974 limits A result of BCRA was the formation of “527” political organizations • Citizens United v. Federal Elections Committee 2010

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