The Election ProcessPathway to the Presidency

Nomination (primary season) and election (general election); two separate steps, two strategies

Incumbent Advantages• House vs. Senate• Frank Privilege• For the House – safe districts and gerrymandering• Provide services for constituents• Name recognition• Usually no challenge in the Primary• Advantage in raising money• Is this good or bad? (the high rate of incumbency)

Nomination Process Campaigning

• Person campaigns around the country trying to gain support of his/ her party

• Develop a Platform• Ideology in Primary vs. General election• Theme, timing, tone• Can you get media coverage? (horse race effect)• Needs money…….• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFPIYObrelw

Nomination Process Primaries/Caucus

State elections to determine who is the best candidate for the party. Takes place over several months

• Closed Primaries – can only vote in your parties election

• Open Primaries – Can vote in either party’s primary

• Blanket Primary – All candidates listed on one ballot

• Caucus – Town hall style meeting• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnh-136QqO8

National Convention• Big party to officially

united the party and announce their candidate and VP.

• Platform used to be decided. Now Individual Candidate determines to some extent

• Now is just a media event.

• Key Note Speaker!!!• Last night – the candidate

finally accepts the nomination.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyIWMWs67yI

The General Election Campaign

• No longer a “national” campaign but targeted state campaigns

• Role of Money• Debates – still important

today– Helps two parties– Helps challenger (unless

you are Bush in 2004)– Much more controlled now

Famous Debate moments• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF9gSyku-fc&fea

ture=PlayList&p=E02E199A28BE4F43&index=5• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QazmVHAO0os• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-7gpgXNWYI• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ffbFvKlWqE&fe

ature=PlayList&p=C6FA4C507CE18C2E&index=0

Election Day• First Tuesday of

November• Voter turnout….?• Popular Vote does not

elect the President – but does determine other offices

• Midterm elections– lower turnout and normal for “ruling” party to lose seats in Congress

• Party Label is important in General Election

Electoral College

• Decides the President• Makes the election less competitive (popular vote is

normally pretty close)• The Election is actually 50 (51 ) separate state elections

–each state worth so many points – winner takes all.• Was created to keep one region from determining the

election, safe guard against democracy, and a compromise between slave and non slave states.

•

Officially take office the following year

Congress – January 3rd

The President - January 20th

Winning

During peacetime, presidential elections are usually decided on the basis of three factors:– Political party affiliation– The economy– Character

• Prospective voting is used by relatively few voters

• Retrospective voting is practiced by most voters, and decides most elections

Coalitions

• Democratic coalition: African Americans, Jews, Hispanics (not Cuban)

• Catholics, southerners and union members are leaving the Democrats

• Republican coalition: business and professional people who are very loyal, farmers