political parties, candidates, and campaigns -...

Political Parties, Candidates,

and Campaigns:

Defining the Voter’s Choice

Chapter 8

OPENING

Political Party – an ongoing coalition of

interests joined together in an effort to get its

candidates for public office elected under a

common belief

U.S. campaigns are party-centered and

candidate centered

© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 2

Party Competition and Majority

Rule: The History of U.S. Parties

The first parties

Federalists – Alexander Hamilton

Republicans – Thomas Jefferson

Republicans transform into Democrats

Andrew Jackson & grassroots parties

Dependent upon voter support

Democrats vs. Whigs (anti-Jackson)

Democrats split their vote in 1860 allowing the first

Republican, Abraham Lincoln, to win with only 40% of the

vote




Republicans vs. Democrats

Enduring two-party system since Civil War

Ability to adapt during periods of crisis

Partisan realignments during crises

Disruption of the existing political order because of powerful and

divisive issues

Election in which voters shift their support in favor of one party

Major change in policy

Enduring change in the party coalitions




History of realignments Civil War—Republicans gain control

Republicans in the North and Democrats in the “solid south”

During the next three decades the Republicans held the presidency

except for Grover Cleveland

1896—Republicans solidify control (added additional support with

progressives)

During the next four decades the Republicans held the presidency

except for Woodrow Wilson

1932—Democrats gain control – FDR’s elections began a 36 year

period of Democratic presidents except for Dwight Eisenhower


Realignments have effect on future elections

because they affect voters’ party identification.

Young or new voters establish a long lasting base




Today’s party alignment

Republicans

Dominant in South – change due to the Vietnam War

and Civil Rights movement

Conservative stance on social issues, domestic spending

Republicans have held the presidency for over twice as

many years as the Democrats

Known as the GOP (Grand Old Party)




Today’s party alignment

Democrats

Dominant in Northeast – growing size of minority

populations

Liberal on social issues and domestic spending

Realignments have been gradual over the years rather

than because of an abrupt change.




Parties and the vote

Strength of party identification

Rarity of true independents

Split ticket voting – a sign of dealignment (weakening

of party power)

Prospective voting vs. retrospective voting


Electoral and Party Systems

Single-member-district system – plurality

voting

Vs. proportional representation

Policies & coalitions in two-party system

Seeking the center

Party coalitions – relatively broad and includes

voters of nearly every ethnic, religious, and

economic grouping


Electoral and Party Systems

Minor (third) parties – bring issues to light that the two

major parties will ultimately adopt

Reform parties - Progressive

Single-issue parties – Free Soil, Prohibition

Factional parties – Bull Moose Party

Ideological parties – Libertarian, Socialist


Party Organization

Weakening of party organizations Parties used to control nominations and elections; now is the

people and the candidates themselves

Primary election/direct primary

Closed vs. open primary

Blanket primary

Caucus

Money goes directly to candidate rather than party

Decline in patronage – merit system

Patronage now comes from the candidate


Party Organization

Structure & role of party organizations

Local party organizations

Parties are organized from the bottom up

State party organizations

Central committee headed by a chairman


Party Organization

National party organizations

Structure of the national parties – setting policy,

determining site of national convention, and setting the

rules governing the selection of convention delegates

Chairman is selected by the president

The parties and money

Hard money – money given directly to the candidate

which is subject to strict limits; candidate can spend it

as he or she chooses

Soft money – unlimited money given to the candidate’s

party for party building purposes

14

Party Organization

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act – prohibits

national and state parties from raising or

spending soft money

Ban does not apply to 527 groups (not for profit)

Issue advocacy

MoveOn and Swift Boat


Candidate-Centered Campaign

Campaign funds: money chase Incumbents has a distinct advantage

House - $1million

Senate - $6 million

President - $200 million

Organization and strategy: hired guns Campaign consultants (Dick Morris, Karl Rove, Rahm Emanuel),

pollsters, media producers (photo ops and sound bites), fundraisers, and

get out the vote specialists

Candidate packaging


Candidate-Centered Campaign

Voter contacts: pitched battles

Air wars – accounts for more than half of

campaign spending

Debates

Ground wars – contact by phone or in person

Get the swing voters

Web wars – internet is the preferred choice for fund-

raising and interacting with supporters and TV is the best

choice for achieving public recognition and reaching less-

interested voters


Parties, Candidates,

Public’s Influence

Candidate centered system provides opportunities for

newcomers to gain office quickly

Encourages national officeholders to be responsive to local

interests

Engage in mud-slinging contest and allow for more special

interest group influence

Weakens accountability


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