Election Campaigns Phases of Political Campaigns Potential candidates

Election Campaigns

Phases of Political Campaigns • Potential candidates begin “testing the water” 1½ - 2 years before the election. • Primary campaigns begin about 1½ years before the election. • Primaries in most states - December-April (a few in May and June) • • • Party caucuses in spring State party conventions – early summer National party conventions – summer Main campaign August – November Election in November

What is the objective? To win enough votes in the Electoral College to assure victory for their party’s candidate. 538 voters in the Electoral College Must have 270 votes to win Presidency.

Balancing Priorities • In the primaries – small states critical – Because of early primaries – Don’t want to be labeled a “loser” • In main election – big states critical – Because of Electoral College system – Big populations

Campaign Strategy • • • Aggressive attack? Low-key approach? Slogans? Themes? Issues to emphasize? $$$ on TV? Radio? Newspapers?

Campaign Organization • • Strong organization essential Campaign manager Political advisors Specialists State party officials Local party officials Field workers (volunteers)

TV and the Candidate’s Image • • Desire to appear “presidential” People believe what they “see” “Packaging” News coverage (often staged) TV news = most common source of news Political commercials Televised debates

Financing Campaigns • Very expensive • In 2000, Bush and Gore spent $629 million in about 14 weeks of “main” campaign.

Financing Campaigns For the 2012 campaign, Obama raised over $1 billion. Soooo. . . Campaigns are getting more expensive each election cycle.

Campaign Finance Rules • Until 1970’s – campaign money came entirely from contributions • Suspicions about what candidate promised in order to get contributions • Wealthy had too much power • No limits on how much could be contributed.

Reform of Campaign Laws Principals of reform • • Public funding of campaigns Place limits on spending Public disclosure Only individuals (people, not corporations) could donate max $1000 • No donations from corporations, unions, etc.

Growth of PACs • Individual (including corporations) can give PAC max of $5000 • PAC can give candidate max $5000 • PAC can contribute to many candidates

Soft Money • Money for “general purposes” not designated for a specific candidate • Includes non-money donations • Disclosure issues

Recent Reform Efforts • Prohibit “soft” money donations • Ceilings on spending • Full disclosure • Stakes are high • Who will control government?

Citizens United • Supreme Court decision was 5/4 which opened the door to unlimited donations to super PACS • People, companies and unions can give whatever they want to boost someone to office or remove them. • This ruling puts more power in the hands of wealthy individuals.

Money and Ethics

ASSIGNMENT Your “ideal” candidate has agreed to run for President. Based upon what you learned today: 1) Create a timeline for his/her campaign in 2012. 2) What 3 issues will be most important to your “ideal” candidate and what position will he/she take on those 3 issues? Issue #1 ___? ____ Issue #2 ___? ____ Issue #3 ___? ____ Position: ________? ________? _______