Nelson Chapter 2

Question 1

Why Joe Biden didn’t run

Answer 1

1. Perceptions of his old age

2. Historical failures in primaries

Question 2

Rocky track record of Democratic Front-runners

Answer 2

1. Early-front runners often get attacked/lose momentum in early primaries
2. Weakness are exposed, Clinton’s didn’t show til late in election which hurt Democrats

Question 3

Importance of Super-delegates to Hillary Clinton in 2016

Answer 3

1. Party-leaders favored Clinton’s party presence and leadership over Sanders, and earned a majority of delegates.

Question 4

Why Bernie Sanders became Clinton’s principal opponent

Answer 4

1. Attached young voters with income inequality/socialist standpoints
2. Illuminated the unfair nature of Democratic super-delegates and alienated young/liberal Democrats

Question 5

Why Jeb Bush never got momentum

Answer 5

1. People tired of a “Bush” in office

2. Negative name recognition despite lots of funds

Question 6

Explaining the rise of Trump

Answer 6

1. Massive free publicity and media coverage
2. Said what Republicans wanted to hear, addressed neglected negative public issues (immigration/borders)
3. Republican opponents didn’t take him seriously, attacked themselves rather than Trump

Question 7

Differences between Democrat Caucus/Primary outcomes

Answer 7

1. Sanders won caucuses, Hillary won primaries

2. Caucus is smaller/less representative, Hillary would have won without super-delegates

Question 8

Sanders vs Hillary Demographics

Answer 8

1. Sanders won majority of young voters/independents and more liberal Democrats
2. Hillary had major support in South/with Black voters

Question 9

Ted Cruz- Pros/Cons and why he didn’t win

Answer 9

1. Strong conservative candidate that pulled that demographic well
2. Didn’t appeal to broad Republican base and lost

Question 10

Marco Rubio’s pros/cons

Answer 10

1. Did well in early primaries of Iowa, gained early momentum
2. Had a major lapse in a debate illustrated his ineptitude and defense to be President

Question 11

Significance of Trump’s New Hampshire Primary win

Answer 11

1. Distanced himself from other candidates with a comfortable victory
2. Still had 3 other candidates in the race, dividing their votes among themselves and giving Trump more momentum

Question 12

Three Main Reasons “Why Trump”

Answer 12

1. Domination of news coverage
2. Resonated with people looking for change and told it like it was.
3. Critics did not have legitimacy to make criticisms stick. Also prompted response from “faulty media”.

Question 13

Would Sanders have done better than Trump?

Answer 13

1. Not likely, was not attacked heavily in primaries

2. Secular views and liberal agenda made him easy target for attack ads.