Campaigns and elections
Transcript of Campaigns and elections
States had discretion over presidential selection
Office designed with Washington in mind; No real details included
Office above partisan politics; Leaders acting in national interest
How do we calculate a state’s number of electoral votes?
Determined by their congressional representation (number of Representatives
and Senators)
Kentucky has 8 electoral votes, because we have 6 house
representatives and 2 senators)There are 538 total votes in the Electoral College.
A presidential candidate needs 270 to win the election.
The House
Population; House election every two years
The Senate
Equality, 1/3 of Senate elected every two years
Seventeenth Amendment
Terms are staggered
“Hard Money”: Money given directly to candidates; amounts limited by law
“Soft Money”: Unregulated money given by parties or individualsnot directly supporting candidates .
Swing states can “flip,” changing support for Republican or Democratic nominees depending on election.
Microtargeting is when a campaign tailors ads to certain groups (e.g. women, young people) to get them to vote for their candidate.
Valence Issue Issues most voters agree on (e.g. strong economy)
Position Issue Issues most voters differ in perspectives and solutions
(e.g. health care)
Wedge Issue Controversial issue candidates use to drive “wedge”
between other party