US Presidential Elections Flashcards
When are Presidential elections held?
Every 4 years
what are some of the key aspects in becoming a presidential candidate?
- Political experience
- Major party candidacy
- Personal characteristics
- NEED LOTS OF MONEY
- Effective organisaton
- Telegenic
What are candidates usually, before running for president?
Political experience
Candidates are usually VP, State governors or senators
Trump is a clear exemption
What has seen to be a significant aspect of running as a candidate?
Major Party Candidacy
The size of the US, and the electoral voting system, mean that without the support of one of the two major parties, you are sunk
A famous billionaire Ross Perot (‘92, ‘96) saw it was very difficult
What are some of the personal characteristics?
- Advantage to be married
- Divorce hasn’t seen to be a problem (Reagan was with his 2nd wife)
- Need lots of money (Obama got 69m votes costing $7.39 per vote
During the selection process what can’t the party do?
effective organisation
Help anyone
What was the effective method Obama used during his campaign?
Effective Organisation
Dashboard - online software used by Obama in 2012
A famous example of a candidate who didn’t organise, finance or run a good campaign?
Bob Dole (1996 Republican)
Name a few presidents who were very telegenic?
Reagan (actor), Clinton had done extremely well in this area, Obama has presence and is a fine speaker
Trump generates news by controversial nonsense
What is taken place before the presidential campaign even starts, right at the beginning?
Invisible Primaries
what are invisible primaries?
The period between candidates declaring an intention to run for the presidency and the 1st primaries and caucuses. Critically important for a candidate to gain name recognition, money and time to organise a campaign team.
List the process the Candidate has got to go through to reach the Presidential election?
1) Invisible Primary
2) Primary
3) Presidential election
What types of things occur during the invisible primary?
- Played out largely in the media (Hopefully)
- TV appearances on ‘The Face the Nation’
- Opinion Polls
- Staged events
- Raising money - candidates need to raise enough money to be considered serious contenders
- RAISE YOUR PROFILE, RAISE YOUR MONEY, THIN OUT YOUR COMPETITION
What are primaries?
A state’s primary election or caucus to choose the candidate the delegate (do what they are told) from that state will support at a party’s national convention
When did Trump announce that he was going to run for president?
June 2015 (17 months before the election) after several years of proclaiming that Obama wasn’t American
What does each party do to choose it’s presidential candidate?
Each party holds a convention (conference). Here each state sends delegates to take part in the vote. In order to decide how the delegates vote; each state holds a Primary or caucus
What are caucuses?
Serves the same purpose as a primary, but takes the form of a series of meetings at which attendees can vote. Tend to be held in large populated states
What do some states tend to do which gives them greater prominance, referring to timings of primaries?
Some states try and get a date when no other state is holding a primary
What tend to be the typical date to hold a primary?
States holding simultaneous primaries. SUPER TUESDAY
What is front loading?
More and more states were trying to schedule their primary elections earlier and earlier to increase the influence and percieved importance
Who can take part in a primary?
Any registered voter
What occurs in some states when you register?
Declare your support for a party
What is a closed primary?
Only those who are registered as supporting a party can vote in that party’s primary
What is an open primary?
Any registered voter can take part in their primary
What are open primaries subject to?
‘Cross-over’ voting - when Democrats vote in Republican primaries and vice versa
What are some of the strengths of Primaries?
✅Choice of candidates has increased 2000 14 candidates
✅Power of party bosses is removed
✅Participation doubled between ‘68 and ‘88 up to 22%
What are some of the weaknesses of primaries?
❌Apathy: people dont care. 2016 primaries 28.5%
❌Expensive: Money needs to be raised so campaigning starts earlier. Obama $100m 2007
❌Disunity: Campaigns can become bitter and damaging for the party, leading to the winning candidiate failing to win the actual election McCain/Bush 2000
What are the disadvantages of a two-party system?
- Lack of choice
- Apathy
- Similarities of parties
What are national party conventions?
Major political parties put on in the run up to a Presidential Election which officially marks the end of the primary election season and the beginning of the General Election campaign
What are the 3 FORMAL functions? (Functions that the convention is supposed to be for, but don’t happen)
1) Choosing the Presidential Candidate
2) Choosing the VP candidate
3) Deciding the party platform
What are the 3 INFORMAL functions of a National Convention? (Functions which do tend to happen)
1) Promoting party unity
2) Enthusing the ordinary voters
3) Enthusing the party faithful
Disadvantages of National Conventions?
- Don’t choose candidates or make policy
- Recent trend for a parade of celebrities
- TV coverage is down from 46hrs in ‘68, to 10hrs in 2000
What are the main factors that contributed to Obama’s success in 2012?
- Incumbency
- Early and effective attacks
- Quality of Campaign
- Mitt Romney and his poor social skills
How many offices did Obama have in swing states such as Florida and Ohio compared to Romney?
FL: O:106 R:56
OH: O:131 R:40
What was the percentage turnout of the 2020 election?
66% up from 56% in 2016
Why did Biden win?
1) Stuck to his message “Govern with empathy and experience in a time of crisis”
2) Quality of campaign
3) Let Trump be Trump, didnt go well for Trump impeachment etc
