Nominations & Campaigns

The Nomination Game

The Big Picture

The Nomination – the official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party; for success, requires momentum, money, and media attention

Campaign Strategy – the master plan that is laid out by the candidate to guide their electoral campaign

Deciding to Run • Campaigns are physically and emotionally

exhausting• Other countries have short campaign

systems – U.S. campaigns (especially for President) can lost 18 months or more.

The Nomination Game

Winning the Nomination – Competing for Delegates

The Caucus Road• Meeting of state party leaders to choose delegates• Organized like a pyramid from local precincts to the

state’s convention• Not used by many states – Iowa is the first and

considered the most importantThe Primary Road

• Elections which voters choose the nominee or delegates that pledge for the nominee; dates back to early 1900’s as a reform movement

• Most states used some form of a primary with New Hampshire being first

• Frontloading is now popular – have an early primary to gain importance

• General primaries are viewed as elimination contests

The Nomination Game

Winning the Nomination – Competing for Delegates

Evaluating the Primary and Caucus System• There is disproportionate attention paid to

the early ones.• Prominent politicians find it difficult to

make time to run.• Money plays a large role.• Participation in primaries and caucuses is

low and unrepresentative.• The system gives an incredible amount of

power to the media.

The Nomination Game

Winning the Nomination – The Convention

The Convention Send-off• Once provided great drama, but now

they are a mere formality --- which means less tv time

• Are still important to party followers – help with organization and motivation

• Biggest accomplishment is the adoption of a party platform – the statement of goals and policies and general beliefs

• Official nominations occur here with candidate speeches

The Campaign Game

Using the Media

The High-Tech Media Game• Direct mail is used to generate support and

money for the candidate• Candidates will gain media attention

through an advertising budget and the attempt to get “free” coverage

• There is a huge emphasis on marketing the candidate

• News focuses on strategies and events; not the actual policies of a candidate

The Campaign Game

The Campaign

Organizing the Campaign• Get a campaign manager• Get a fundraiser and legal counsel• Hire media and campaign consultants• Assemble staff and plan logistics• Get a research staff, policy advisors, and

pollsters• Get a good press secretary• Hire someone that is going to establish a

website and links to social media

The Money Game

Campaign Finance Reforms

Federal Election Campaign Act (1974)• Created the Federal Election Commission

(FEC) to administer campaign finance laws for federal elections

• Created the Presidential Election Campaign Fund

• Provided partial public financing for presidential primaries (matching funds)

• Provided full public financing for major party candidates in the general election

• Required full disclosure of campaign contributions and spending

• Limited contributions to political campaigns

The Money Game

Campaign Finance Reforms

Soft Money• Contributions (with no limits) used for

party-building expenses or generic party advertising

McCain-Feingold Act (2002)• Banned soft money, increased amount

individuals could contribute, and limited “issue ads”

Citizens United (2009)• Supreme Court case that ruled the First

Amendment prohibits the government from restricting political expenditures from corporations, labor unions, and associations

The Money Game

Campaign Finance Reforms

The Proliferation of Political Action Committees (PAC’s)

• Definition – created by law in 1974 to allow corporations, labor unions, and others to donate money to campaigns

• Today, there are over 4,600 active PAC’s.

• In 2002, PAC’s contributed over $258 million to congressional candidates.

• They donate to candidates who support their issue, regardless of party affiliation

• Not sufficient enough data to say that PAC’s “buy” candidates

The Money Game

Are Campaigns Out of Control?

Are Campaigns Too Expensive?• Fundraising takes up lots of time.• As incumbents spend more money, they

actually do worse; they need it when they face tough challengers

• The Doctrine of Sufficiency – candidates need just “enough” money to win; not necessarily “more”

The Impacts of Campaigns

Campaigns have three effects on voters:• Reinforcement, Activation, Conversion

Mostly they reinforce and activate.• Selective Participation – Pay attention to

things that we agree with.• Party identification still has an effect.• Incumbents start with a substantial

advantage.

Understanding Nominations and Campaigns

Are Nominations and Campaigns Too Democratic?• Campaigns are open to almost everyone.• Campaigns consume much time and money.• Campaigns promote individualism in

American politics.

Do Big Governments Lead to an Increased Scope of Government?

• Candidates make numerous, especially to state and local interests.

• Hard for politicians to promise to make government cuts.