National Party Conventions

Question 1

What are national party conventions?

Answer 1

• The meeting held every four years by each of the two major parties to select presidential and vice presidential candidates and agree the party platform

Question 2

What is the post convention bounce and how is it an advantage of national conventions and how can this advantage be critiqued too?

Answer 2

• When a party’s presidential nominee makes his or her’s speech, their poll ratings usually increase. In the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton got a bounce of +4.5% in the polls after her speech at the convention
• However, the importance of post-convention bounce can be exaggerated. Post convention polls only really signal the eventual outcome of the election about half the time. Clinton won the battle of conventions, yet went on to lose the election

Question 3

Strength of party conventions (party unity)

Answer 3

• The primaries can turn into bitter personal battles, and it is vital that parties appear unified going into an election. The convention gives a golden opportunity for the party to heal their wounds.

Question 4

Another strength of party conventions (voters)

Answer 4

• Millions of Americans who have shunned the campaign the whole year will often tune in for the key moments of the convention

Question 5

Mitt Romney and the Republican convention

Answer 5

• After the Republican convention, Romney took the lead in polling
• However, Obama still ended up winning the election