 starter activity
Barack Obama,
Democratic
Convention,
Denver
Colorado,
Acceptance
Speech, August
2008
What are the qualities necessary to become a US President?
Presidential qualities










Natural-born American
35+
Political experience
Major party endorsement
Personal characteristics
Fundraising ability
Organisational skills
Oratorical skills
Telegenic
Sound & relevant policies
How are presidents
elected?
 Aims
To explain the difference between a caucus
& a primary
To define and identify reasons for the
importance of invisible primaries
To assess the extent to which the electoral
system is in need of reform
Caucus





Meetings held in states to indicate a preferred
candidate
Common in less densely populated states, e.g.
Nevada
Iowa caucus most important, giving momentum
to winning candidate, e.g. Obama 2008
Attended by party activists
Turn out is low
 Your task

List the reasons why caucuses are considered to
be less democratic
‘smoke-filled room’ in Nevada during the Democratic caucus
Primary





Intra-party state elections
Held in majority of states
Rules decided by states and political parties
Select delegates to attend national nominating
convention, who will vote for the winning
candidate
Winner decided by popular vote with ‘winnertakes-all’ or by PR
 Your task

What makes primaries more democratic?
Obama at the New Hampshire primary, 2008
 Your task

Read p.42-6 and define what is meant by an
invisible primary and list the reasons why these
are important.
Invisible primaries






Unofficial electioneering before 1st official primary
when candidates establish their name, funding and
momentum
Provide media coverage
Opportunity to test opinion, e.g. opinion polls
Head-to-head debates to test ideas & popularity with
electorate
Fund-raising opportunities, e.g. Ames Straw Poll &
Jefferson-Jackson Day
Helps identify ‘frontrunners’
 Your task

Read about primaries and caucuses in Bennett,
p.46-51 and complete the evidence chart from
your teacher.
 Your task

Read p.52, and explain what was the
‘McGovern-Fraser Commission’. Create a scales
chart summarising the achievements and failures
of the new nominations process. Read p.57-8
and list ways in which they can be further
improved.
Hubert Humphrey, whose Democratic
presidential nomination without entering any
primaries provoked controversy
McGovern-Frasier Commission


Provoked by selection of Hubert Humphrey as
Democratic Party presidential nominee, without
entering any primaries
Selection procedure criticised as undemocratic,
elitist & non-participatory
 Extension task

Case study, Hillary Clinton. List the reasons why
Clinton lost the 2008 Democratic Nomination.
Give reasons why Obama won.
Reasons why Clinton lost the 2008
Democratic nomination









‘Air of inevitability’
Poor organisation
Losing the money primary
Policy – ‘change’ v. ‘experience’
Loss of momentum – Iowa defeat
No plan past ‘Super Tuesday’
Bill Clinton factor
Primary calendar and voting rules
Hilary Clinton
Why Obama won






Organisation, e.g. effective use of pollsters
Fundraising, e.g. internet donations
Policy, e.g. ‘Change we can believe in’
Long-term strategic planning, e.g. past ‘Super
Tuesday’
Momentum
Obama factor
 Plenary





How many constitutional and extra-constitutional
requirements can you list for a presidential candidate
Why are ‘invisible primaries’ important in the selection
process?
How are primaries and caucuses different?
What are the disadvantages / advantages of primaries
to select a presidential candidate?
Why did Barack Obama win the Democratic
nomination process?