Election Campaigns

Phases of Political CampaignsPhases 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?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 PrioritiesBalancing 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 StrategyCampaign Strategy

• Aggressive attack?

• Low-key approach?

• Slogans?

• Themes?

• Issues to emphasize?

• $$$ on TV? Radio? Newspapers?

Campaign OrganizationCampaign Organization

• Strong organization essential

• Campaign manager

• Political advisors

• Specialists

• State party officials

• Local party officials

• Field workers (volunteers)

TV and the Candidate’s ImageTV 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 CampaignsFinancing Campaigns

• Very expensive

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

For the 2012 campaign, there

is talk that Obama will

probably raise over $1 billion.

Soooo . . . Campaigns are getting more

expensive each election cycle.

Financing CampaignsFinancing Campaigns

Campaign Finance RulesCampaign 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 LawsReform 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 PACsGrowth of PACs

• Individual (including corporations) can give PAC max of $5000

• PAC can give candidate max $5000

• PAC can contribute to many candidates

Soft MoneySoft Money

• Money for “general purposes” not designated for a specific candidate

• Includes non-money donations

• Disclosure issues

Recent Reform EffortsRecent Reform Efforts

• Prohibit “soft” money donations

• Ceilings on spending

• Full disclosure

• Stakes are high

• Who will control government?

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 ___?____

Position: ________

________?_______

Issue #2 ___?____

Position: ________

________?_______

Issue #3 ___?____

Position: ________

________?_______