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Campaigns and Elections

Campaigns and Elections. Campaigns and Elections . The Changing Nature of Campaigns Internet Web Sites Polling and Media Consultants Computerized Mailing Lists Focus Groups. Presidential Campaign strategies : . Run to the Middle Preserve your base while trying to win over the undecided

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Campaigns and Elections

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  1. Campaigns and Elections

  2. Campaigns and Elections • The Changing Nature of Campaigns • Internet Web Sites • Polling and Media Consultants • Computerized Mailing Lists • Focus Groups

  3. Presidential Campaign strategies: • Run to the Middle • Preserve your base while trying to win over the undecided • Focus on the states with the most payoff

  4. CAMPAIGN FINANCING: • In 2004 the average cost to run for the House – roughly $530,000. • Roy Blunt spent $3.5 million • For the Senate, close to $6.5 million. • Kit Bond raised $8.9 million

  5. Presidential Campaign Spending • Kerry: $310 million • Bush: $345 million • Both received about $75 million in public funds

  6. Overview of Campaign Finance Reform • The Federal Election Campaign Act - 1971 (Applies to Presidential candidates). Designed to: • Prevent undue influence by any one individual donor by limiting individual contributions: • Prevent large imbalances in the level of money candidates received by setting up a system of public financing of presidential campaigns. • Limit the amount of money that Presidential candidates could spend out of their own pocket IF THEY CHOOSE TO ACCEPT FEDERAL FUNDS -

  7. Role of the Federal Election Commission • Monitor Campaign Contributions and Expenditures • Specific Rules: • For individuals, $2,000 limit per candidate per election • Individual contributions of up to $25,000 to a national party committee

  8. The Role of Political Action Committees • What are PAC’s? • Specific Limits • $5,000 limit from an individual to any one PAC per year • $5,000 limit from a PAC to a candidate per election

  9. The Growing Influence of PAC’s • Indirect PAC contributions – no limits • Who do PAC’s support? • Effects of PAC Influence

  10. Two Persistent Problems • Soft Money • Funds raised by the two major parties that are not subject to limits • Supposed to be used for “party building activities” (e.g., get out the vote drives; voter registration activities) • In 2000, soft money contributions to both parties were about 500 million.

  11. Two Persistent Problems • Independent Expenditures • Buckley v. Valeo (1976) upheld use of independent expenditures

  12. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold) • Banned Soft Money • Increased limits for individual contributions

  13. The New Players: 527’s • 2004 – over $500 million contributed • No disclosure requirements, no contribution limits, no spending limits • Is this good or bad for democracy?

  14. Reforming the System • All federal campaigns publicly financed? • Lower the costs of elections • Shorten the campaign season • Require broadcasters to provide free or low-cost advertising for candidates

  15. Reforming the System • Eliminate PAC contributions? • Eliminate 527’s? • Set spending limits on campaigns?

  16. Presidential Nominating Conventions • How have they changed over time? • Convention delegates - who are they?  What do they do?  What is their purpose? 

  17. ELECTIONS • Caucuses - yesterday and today • Primaries - What are they?  What is their purpose? • Who votes in primaries? Effects?

  18. Types of Primaries • open • blanket • closed

  19. Electoral college • What is it? • How does it work?

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