Presidential Elections

Presidential Elections

1. Invisible Primary

   • Happens straight after the last presidential election
   • Potential candidates try to get mentioned In serious press
     • NY Times
     • Washinton Post
     • Newshour PBS
     • Release books
       • Hilary Clinton "Making Hard Choices"

2. Primaries and Caucusses

   • Functions
     • Show the popularity of candidates
     • Select delegates for the NPC
   • What are they?
     • Primaries are Elections
     • Caucuses are meetings used in low population states
   • Types:
     • Closed: only open to party affiliates i.e. Democrat Party Members
     • Open: anyone can vote in that primary
   • Front Loading
     • States schedules their primaries early in the cycle to increase their importance
   • Possible Reform
     • A National Primary
     • Series of 4 regional Primaries e.g. N,S,E,W
     • States vote in order of size , smallest first

3. National Party Convention

   • To chose Presidential Candidate
     • Function almost entirely lost
       • The NPC now only confirms the candidate
     • Committed delegates are voted for in the primary, a candidate needs an absolute magority
       • In 2012 Romney needed 1,144 votes out of a possible 2,286
   • To chose the Vice-President Candidate
     • The Presidential Candidate will look for a balanced ticket
       • Mccain
         • Congress
         • Male
         • Arizona
         • 72
         • Moderate
       • Palin
         • State Govenor
         • Female
         • Alaska
         • 44
         • Conservative
     • Now decided way before the election
   • Decide on the Party Platform (Manifesto)
   • Functions
     • Promote Party Unity
     • Enthuse the party faithful
     • Enthuse the ordinary voters

4. TV Debates

   • used in every election since 1960
     • Nixon V. Kennedy
   • Not only what you say, but how you say it
   • Appearance is everything
   • Harder for incumbents
     • Obama 2012
   • Confirms the Front Runner
   • Can change the direction of campaigns

5. Electoral College

   • Equal to the State's representation in congress
   • Preserves the voice of the small population states
   • Promotes a two horse race
     • Makes it hard for minor parties
       • Perot 1992: 19% of Popular vote. No ECVs
     • In 25 of the last 37 elections the winner has had 5-% of the ECVs
   • Possible for a candidate to win the ECVs and not the popular vote
   • Rogue electors