Chapter Ten:

Campaigning for Office

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Learning Objectives

Identify the reasons people have for seeking public office.

Compare and contrast a primary and a caucus in relation to the party nominating function.

Describe the major changes that have occurred in campaigning for public office over the last decade.

Explain the use of polls and focus groups by candidates and campaigns.

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Learning Objectives

Briefly explain the rules on public financing of presidential campaigns.

Distinguish between “soft money” and “hard money.”

Explain how the Campaign Reform Act of 2002 encouraged independent expenditures and issue advocacy ads.

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Learning Objectives

Explain why campaign finance reform inevitably produces new ways for money to flow to campaigns (e.g., 527 organizations).

Evaluate the effects of front-loading on the quality and quantity of candidates voter see on the ballot in their state.

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Who Wants to Be a Candidate?

There are two categories of individuals who run for office:self-starters those who are recruited by the party.

The Nomination Process

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Who Wants to Be a Candidate?

Who Is Eligible?President:

Must be a natural-born citizen At least 35 years old Be a resident of the country for 14 years by the

time of inauguration.

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Who Wants to Be a Candidate?

Who Is Eligible? (Continued)Vice president:

Must be a natural-born citizen At least 35 years old Not be a resident of the same state as the

candidate for president

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Who Wants to Be a Candidate?

Who Is Eligible? (Continued)Senator:

Must be a citizen for at least 9 years At least 30 years old Be a resident of the state from which elected

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Who Wants to Be a Candidate?

Who is Eligible? (Continued)Representative:

Must be a citizen for at least 7 years At least 25 years old Be a resident of the state from which elected

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Who Wants to Be a Candidate?

Who Runs?

Holders of political office in the United States are overwhelmingly white and male.

Women as Candidates: number of women running for office has substantially increased

Lawyers as Candidates

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The 21st Century Campaign

The Changing Campaign:

Before most households had televisions, campaigning was personalized. Campaigns today are often less personal, with voters receiving information through the media.

Campaigns have become less party-centered and more candidate-centered.

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The 21st Century Campaign

The Professional Campaign Candidates hire:political consultants finance chairpersoncommunications directorpress secretary

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The 21st Century Campaign13

The Strategy of Winning

Candidate Visibility and Appeal Use of Opinion Polls Focus Groups Financing the Campaign

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Financing the Campaign

Regulating Campaign Financing

Hatch Act (Political Activities Act) of 1939Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

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Interest Groups and Campaign Finance: Reaction to New Rules

PACs and Political Campaigns Interest groups can set up PACs to raise funds

for candidates. Funds must be raised from at least 50 volunteer

donors and must be given to at least five candidates in the federal election.

PACs can contribute up to $5,000 to each candidate in each election.

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Interest Groups and Campaign Finance: Reaction to New Rules

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Interest Groups and Campaign Finance: Reaction to New Rules

Campaign Financing Beyond the LimitsSoft Money Independent Expenditures Issue Advocacy

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Interest Groups and Campaign Finance: Reaction to New Rules

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 Bans soft money. Allowed campaign ads by outside special-interest

groups up to 60 days before a general election and up to 30 days before a primary election.

Increased contribution limit to $2,000 with annual increases.

Raised maximum amount individuals can give to $95,000 over a two-year election cycle.

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Interest Groups and Campaign Finance: Reaction to New Rules

Rise of the 527s—527s are tax exempt interest groups that use soft money contributions:

Can be partisan or ideological.

Can raise more money than PACs.

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Interest Groups and Campaign Finance: Reaction to New Rules

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Interest Groups and Campaign Finance: Reaction to New Rules

Campaign Financing and the 2008 ElectionsJohn McCain used public campaign funds for the

general election.Barack Obama raised over $630 million in

individual donations and did not accept PAC monies.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

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Running for President: The Longest Campaign

Primaries: Closed Primary Open Primary Blanket Primary Runoff primary

Front-Loading the Primaries

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Running for President: The Longest Campaign

The National Conventions Seating the DelegatesConvention Activities

SpeechesCommittee reportsPresidential balloting

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Running for President: The Longest Campaign

The General ElectionBegins after the national conventions.Candidates plan their campaigns to use media

advertising, debates, and Get Out the Vote (GOTV) campaigns.

Must constantly plan to win 270 electoral votes to win.

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Web Links

Federal Election Commission: contains information about current campaign-financing laws and the latest filings of finance reports: www.fec.gov.

Center for Responsive Politics: a nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit research group that tracks money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy: www.opensecrets.org.

Project Vote Smart: investigates voting records and campaign-financing information:

www.votesmart.org.

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What If…Spending Limits Were Placed on Campaigns?

One of the most fundamental questions about campaign financing is the fairness—to both candidates and voters—of one candidate who raises more money to finance a strong organization and buys more media advertisements than others.

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What If…Spending Limits Were Placed on Campaigns?

Impact of spending limits:

Decline in number of wealthy candidates Limits on campaign contributions Reduction in number of lobbyists Decreased revenue for media companies

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You Can Make a Difference: Students on the Campaign Trail

Students can volunteer for political campaigns at the national, state, and local levels by:

helping with fundraising, participating in weekend canvassing, getting people out to vote as election day

approaches, working for one of the party organizations, and volunteering for an independent political entity.

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You Can Make a Difference: Students on the Campaign Trail

For further information on volunteering for political campaigns, please contact one of the following organizations:

College Democrats of America: www.collegedems.com.

College Republican National Committee: www.crnc.org.

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