A.P. Government: Chapter 9 Nominations and Campaigns

A.P. GOVERNMENT: CHAPTER 9 – NOMINATIONS AND CAMPAIGNS

Lineberry Chapter Objectives: 1. Review the two types of campaigns in American politics – nomination campaigns and election campaigns. 2. Describe the role of campaign strategy in wining a nomination to elective office. 3. Identify the general characteristics of presidential candidates. 4. Describe and evaluate the caucus and primary methods of delegate selection. 5. Contrast the American primary system of nomination with those of other nations such as Great Britain. 6. Consider the ways that high-tech campaigning has changed the nature of American politics. 7. Identify the key actions that candidates must accomplish in order to effectively organize their campaigns. 8. Examine the growth of PACs and their impact on modern campaigning. 9. Assess the crucial role of money and technology in American campaign organizations. 10. Analyze the role the media play in influencing the style and substance of presidential campaigns. 11. Discuss the three effects that campaigns have on voters: reinforcement, activation, and conversion.

AP GOVERNMENT CHAPTER 9 LECTURE & DISCUSSION HANDOUT

I. Background Information:

A. The nomination and election process in America is different than most parliamentary systems in that it is the individual that determines whether they will run, whereas in the latter the party selects the candidate who will run usually based upon party loyalty.

B. Candidates are free to choose what, if any, party label they will run under. When several party members run for an office a primary election(s) or a party convention (or caucus) are needed to select the candidate most likely to win. The method to be used is determined by the respective party level.

C. Candidates may opt to run as an independent or third party for a variety of reasons: 1) to bring attention to specific issues not covered by the two major parties, 2) to insure being on the ballot, 3) their inability to obtain the nomination of a major party, or 4) their dissatisfaction with the existing status quo hoping to bring change to the electoral and political system (running as an 'outsider').

D. 19th vs. 20th century elections: In general, 19th century elections were more party oriented and based upon issues, whereas 20th century elections have been more individual oriented and based upon charisma. The major reasons behind this are: 1) the decline of centralized political party control, 2) the rise of mass media in campaigns, and 3) alternate means for candidates to obtain campaign funding. E. Significant elections can be defined as 'critical elections,' or those defined as providing long-lasting differences among party majorities. Such critical elections usually involve converting existing voters to new party loyalties and recruiting young voters into their party. (see Woll articles)

F. Basic election strategy: 1) be well prepared before announcing your candidacy, 2) obtain your loyal party base, and 3) appeal to independent, undecided, and weak opposition party voters.

G. Winning vs. losing rules: 1) major parties win, independent candidates lose - applies primarily on national and state levels 2) wealthy candidates win, poor candidates lose - 80% of winners tend to outspend their opponents 3) incumbents win, challengers lose - generally over 95% of House and 85% of Senate incumbents are re-elected 4) individuals win, parties lose - even when a party is unpopular candidates have the option of running as 'outsiders' 5) strong or ideological personalities win, quiet and pragmatic people lose - image and immediate emotional issues often defeat bland candidates and long-term real issues 6) early entrants win, late starters lose - the earlier one gets in the more media attention and money they can receive 7) celebrities win, nonentities lose - (overlaps with 5 & 6)

H. Modern elections (since 1950) have been characterized by growing trend of independent voters and split-ticket voters, which are both a result of a decline in party control, less public confidence in government, and the growth of cross-pressured voters.

I. In the last 20 years election costs have grown astronomically on all three levels! All elections in a presidential year come to over $600 million!! PAC $$ often comprises from 20-60% of a congressional candidates warchest. Refuse PAC $$ and it'll go to your opponent.

J. Difficulties of enacting campaign finance reform: 1) incumbents receive 10 times more PAC $$ than challengers, 2) Supreme Court's ruling in Buckley v. Valeo & protections under 1st Amendment speech, 3) no existing public pressure, and 4) entrenchment of existing special interests within system.

K. Running as an 'insider' (part of political status quo and works within the system) vs. an 'outsider' (political rebel who wants to change the system) - when the public is upset with government 'outsiders' can run against government and win (i.e.) Jesse Ventura, however, 'outsiders' often become 'insiders' once they become elected, if they expect to be effective. Sometimes 'outsiders' run against the status quo of their party when it becomes unpopular. Campaign mottos of 'outsiders': "I didn't do it," "Not my fault"

L. Voters' attitudes can be simplified into two categories: 1) prospective voters - desire change from existing norms, looking to the future, often optimistic that things can get better 2) retrospective voters - desire to return to the past, view present norms in decline, often are either nostalgic or pessimistic M. Candidates often shape their campaigns based upon voters' perception of the present political/societal/economic conditions to appeal to prospective and/or retrospective attitudes. Most candidates advocate some types of change - look closely as to whether they are appealing to the future or the past.

II. Terms: Be able to apply and define the following:

A. direct mail

B. coattails

C. political action committees (PACs)

D. primary election

E. party conventions

F. general election

G. partisan / bipartisan

H. split ticket / straight ticket

I. realigning election / dealigning election

J. open primary / closed primary / runoff primary / blanket primary

K. caucus

L. issue vs. image campaigns

M. warchests

N. traditional party bases

O. incumbents vs. challengers

P. positive vs. negative campaign tactics

Q. 'hard money' vs. 'soft money'

R. federal matching funds

S. independent expenditures III. Discussion Questions:

A. Explain why U.S. elections are both more and less democratic than those in other (Western European) countries. How is this effected by voter turnout, registration process, campaign finance sources, and the role of interest groups ?

B. Identify why U.S. elections are more 'personalized' than those in Europe; cite several steps that U.S. candidates must go through to be successful in winning an election.

C. How do U.S. presidential and congressional elections differ from each other ? How do their different constituencies affect their respective campaign strategies and ideological stances ?

D. What is meant as a political 'outsider?' Who is more apt to run as an outsider, an incumbent or a challenger ? Presidential candidate vs. congressional candidate ? Why ?

E. What are 'coattails?' Are they as strong as they use to be? Why ?

F. What usually happens to the president's party in off-year congressional elections ? Were the 1994 and 1998 congressional elections typical or atypical? Explain.

G. What contemporary political positions are used as 'stepping stones' to the modern presidency ? What about during the 19th century ? What position did the founders originally expect to be the 'stepping stone?' Why is the 2000 election so unique in regard to 'stepping stones?'

H. How important has money become in presidential elections ? Why? Where is all this money spent? What are federal matching funds? Why do they exist? Why does Perot refuse such funds in 1992? Why does George W. Bush refuse them in the 2000 state primaries? I. What are the campaign financing limits as set by the 1974 Federal Election Campaign Act ? Have these limits been successful in limiting overall campaign spending ? Why ?

J. How has the presidential state primary process changed in the last 30 years? How has this altered how and where a candidate will campaign? Why did many states change the dates of their primaries in 2000? What effect will this have on campaign strategy?

K. How do state caucuses and primaries differ from each other ? What types of candidates benefit from each ? (Note: Iowa caucus vs. New Hampshire primary)

L. Which party is most closely identified with among the general population? Why ? Why doesn't this party always win ? Which party is more apt to benefit from a low voter turnout ? Why ?

M. Of foreign policy and domestic policy issues, which one is usually emphasized more in federal elections ? Why ?

N. What are 'split votes?' What obvious evidence exists which shows that split votes are increasing in federal elections ? Cite statistical data. (1948 = 33% 1968 = 50% 1972 = 60%)

O. What is a party platform ? When and who determines the party platform? Why do elected candidates often have a hard time achieving various party platforms once in office ?

P. Where do most of a candidate's campaign funding usually come from ? What are PACs ? How important are they to a federal candidate's ability to raise campaign funds ? How can PACs use 'loopholes' to contribute unlimited funds to a candidate ?

Q. What are independent expenditures ? Give examples. What is meant by 'soft money?' Is this type of funding increasing or decreasing ? What is meant by 'bundling?' How important are fundraising dinners?

R. Discuss the statement, "A winning coalition must be put together for each election." Cite the general political bases of each political party and why these various groups cannot be simply taken for granted ?

IV. Rhetorical Questions:

A. Are critical or realigning elections still possible, or just a thing of the past? Why? What characteristics are necessary for a critical election?

B. Traditionally in modern presidential elections the earliest that candidates would announce their candidacy was November of the prior year, however, the 2000 election already had over 12 candidates by April of 1999; Why did the candidates announce so early? How has the presidential campaign process dictated such early announcements? What are the advantages and disadvantages of announcing so early?

C. What will it take for true campaign finance reform laws to be enacted? Provide support.

D. Imagine that you are a campaign manager and have to decide when to run issue oriented ads vs. attack ads; What would you do in the following situations?

1) Your candidate has just announced their candidacy and it is 10 months before the election. 2) It is 2 weeks before the general election and you are 15 points behind in the polls. 3) Your opponent accuses you at their party convention of being a draft dodger because you avoided the draft during the Vietnam War by joining the state national guard.