Chapter 9
NOMINATIONS,
ELECTIONS and
CAMPAIGNS
Learning Outcomes
9.1 Describe how election campaigns have
changed over time
9.2 Explain the procedures followed in the
nomination of both congressional and presidential
candidates
9.3 Describe the function of the electoral college
and formulate arguments for and against the
electoral vote system
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Learning Outcomes
9.4 Analyze the American election campaign
process in terms of political context, financial,
resources, and strategies and tactics for reaching
the voters
9.5 Assess the effects of party identification,
political issues, and candidate attributes on voter
choice
9.6 Explain the significance of candidate-centered
as opposed to party-centered election campaigns
for both majoritarian and pluralist democracy
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The Evolution of Campaigning

Election Campaigns
 Have evolved from party-centered to candidatecentered
 Candidates must now also campaign to get nominated
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Nominations

Nomination for Congress and State Offices
 Primary Election
 Utilized by 40 states to nominate candidates for all state
and national offices


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
Closed primaries
Open primaries
Modified closed primaries
Modified open primaries
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Nominations

Nomination for President
 Each party chooses presidential nominee at national
convention
 Selecting convention delegates
 Presidential primary
 Caucus/convention
 Campaigning for the Nomination
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Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning
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Elections

Presidential Elections and the Electoral
College
 The Electoral College: Structure
 The Electoral College: Politics
 The Electoral College: Abolish It?

Congressional Elections
 Straight ticket, split ticket
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Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning
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Campaigns

The Political Context
 Two important structural factors for candidates
 Office sought
 Incumbent or challenger
 Financing
 Regulating campaign financing





FEC
PACs
527s
501(c)4
SuperPacs
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Campaigns

The Political Context
 Financing (cont’d)
 Public financing of presidential campaigns
 Matching funds
 Private financing of congressional campaigns
 Future trends in campaign finance
 Bundling (result of 2010 Citizens United decision)
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Campaigns

Strategies and Tactics




Party-Centered Strategy
Issue-Oriented Strategy
Candidate-Oriented Strategies
Polling packages




Benchmark polls
Focus groups
Trend polls
Tracking polls
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Campaigns

Strategies and Tactics
 Making the news
 Advertising the candidate
 Using the Internet
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Explaining Voting Choice

Party Identification
 Most of electorate decides vote before party
conventions, generally based on party identification
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Explaining Voting Choice




Issues and Policies
Candidates’ Attributes
Evaluating the Voting Choice
Campaign Effects
 The television campaign
 The presidential debates
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Campaigns, Elections, and
Parties


Parties and the Majoritarian Model
Parties and the Pluralist Model
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