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Campaigns & Elections

Campaigns & Elections. Election Campaigns. What is a campaign? An effort or organized activity by a political candidate & their support to win the backing of: Donors Political advisers Groups Voters Elements of a Campaign Building a formal campaign organization Recruiting

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Campaigns & Elections

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  1. Campaigns & Elections

  2. Election Campaigns What is a campaign? An effort or organized activity by a political candidate & their support to win the backing of: • Donors • Political advisers • Groups • Voters Elements of a Campaign • Building a formal campaign organization • Recruiting • A campaign manager • A media consultant

  3. Election Campaigns Elements of a Campaign • Recruiting • A financial adviser • A press director • Fund-raising • At least half a million for a seat in House • At least 5 million for a seat in Senate • At least 50 million for the White House • Bill Clinton raised $350,000 in Utah for Hillary • By end of Oct, almost $80 million for Clinton & Obama

  4. Election Campaigns Elements of a Campaign • Polling • Conducting polls to find out • Voter info & their past voting behavior • Voter needs • Voter expectations, hopes, and fears • Polls conducted throughout campaign to • Assess weaknesses and strengths • Craft strategy • Modify positions • Select issues • Checking voter responses

  5. Election Campaigns Elements of a Campaign • Primaries • A series of campaign activities to win nomination Strategies of Winning a Campaign • “I can win” attitude • American politics does not favor losers • Winner takes all • A strategy to maximize chances of winning • Visibility of the candidate • Name recognition

  6. Election Campaigns Strategies of Winning a Campaign • Visibility of the candidate • Name recognition • if well-known candidate, highlighting her/his accomplishments • If unknown candidate, increasing his/her appearance before public • Recognition of position on issues • Use of public opinion • Conduct polls • Use tracking polls on a daily basis as election draws near

  7. Election Campaigns Strategies of Winning a Campaign • Use of public opinion • Use of focus groups • What is a focus group? • Citizens selected from certain target groups such as • Blue color men • Senior citizens • College students • The group discusses • Personality traits of candidates • Political advertising • Other candidate related issues

  8. Election Campaigns Strategies of Winning a Campaign • Use of focus groups • What is a focus group? • Citizens selected from certain target groups such as • The group discusses • Groups are expected to reveal more emotional responses to candidates or deep anxieties of voters Campaign can then shape its messages to respond to these feelings and concerns

  9. Presidential Election Issues & Perceptions • Voters think they are voting for president directly; They are voting for electors in fact • Number & choice of electors in Article II, Sec I of Constitution Why Electoral College? • Avoiding selection of president by excited masses • for the supposedly dispassionate, reasonable men to make the choice Choice of Electors • Selection governed by state laws in every presidential election year

  10. Presidential Election Choice of Electors • Selection governed by state laws in every presidential election year • Total number of electors: 538 (=100 Senators+435 Representatives+3 electors from D.C.) • CA=55 • NY=33 • TX=34 • MT=3.

  11. Congressional Election Success Factors • Incumbency advantage • Redistricting • Who the person to run • Name recognition • Fund-raising • Charisma

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