Campaigns, Elections, and the Media

6 Campaigns, Elections, and the Media

Video: The Big Picture 6 http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/polisci/presidency/MaglebyBrief_Ch06_Campaigns_and_Elections_Seg1_v2.html

6 6 Learning Objectives Assess the implications of election rules in the United States 6.1 Explain how congressional elections work and why they are generally not competitive and describe the stages in U.S. presidential elections and how campaigns are conducted at each stage 6.2

6 6 Learning Objectives Evaluate the influence of money in American elections and the main approaches to campaign finance reform 6.3 Describe changes in the nature and extent of the political influence of the various news media 6.4

6 Learning Objectives Evaluate the media’s influence on public opinion and attention 6.5

Video: The Basics 6 http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg2_Elections_v2.html

Elections: The Rules of the Game 6.1 • Regularly Scheduled Elections • Fixed, Staggered, and Sometimes • Limited Terms • Winner Take All • The Electoral College

Regularly Scheduled Elections Elections held at fixed intervals Party in power cannot change date Congressional elections held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered year Presidential elections every four years 6.1

Fixed, Staggered, and Sometimes Limited Terms Fixed Terms of Office U.S. Representative = 2 years U.S. Senator = 6 years President = 4 years Staggered Terms of Office All House members run every two years Only 1/3 of Senate also run every two years 6.1

Winner Take All 6.1 • Plurality of votes wins • Majority is not required • Favors moderates • Single-member districts • Usually only one winner per office • In combination with winner-take-all system, virtually • guarantees two-party system • Proportional representation

The Electoral College 6.1 • Electoral system • Number of electors same as number of representatives and senators • Electors vote for candidate who wins state • Candidate with majority of electoral votes wins • If no majority, House of Reps. chooses • Electoral College influences politics • Candidates must win in most populous states • 2000 Election – Al Gore

6.1 Peculiar elections

6.1 6.1Which office is limited to two four-year terms? • U.S. Representative • Chief Justice • U.S. Senator • President

Congressional and Presidential Elections 6.2 • The House of Representatives • The Senate • Running for President

6.2 FIGURE 6.1: Safe and competitive House seats, 2000–2010

The House of Representatives Mounting a primary campaign Fundraising Personal organization Media visibility Campaigning for the general election More voters than primary Partisanship is more important Name recognition for incumbents and funding 6.2

6.2 FIGURE 6.2: Seats gained or lost by the president’s party in midterm elections, 1974–2010

6.2 Jean Schmidt

The Senate 6.2 • The Senate • Better financed than House races • Midterm elections • Higher profile • Six-year terms • Higher cost of Senate campaigns • Interest groups often commit more money to competitive races in smaller states • Incumbency advantage • Not as great as U.S. House

6.2 Figure 6.3: Rising campaign costs in congressional general elections

Running for PresidentStage 1: The Nomination Presidential primaries Delegates and superdelegates Various types of primaries “Front loading” 6.2

Stage 1: The Nomination, cont’d Caucuses and conventions Delegates selected by party members Strategies Appeal to partisanship in primaries Appeal to moderates in general elections 6.2

6.2 Primary debate

Stage 2: The National Party Convention The party platform Defines the direction a party wants to take on policy The vice presidential nominee Choice attracts wide media attention The value of conventions Nomination by petition Must meet each state’s ballot access requirements 6.2

6.2 Senator Marco Rubio at 2012 Republican convention

Stage 3: The General Election Presidential debates “Joint appearance” instead of true debate Television and radio advertising More aggressive in battleground states Target ads to specific audiences 6.2

6.2 Romney ad

Stage 3: The General Election The Outcome State of the economy deciding factor of who wins 6.2

6.2 6.2Which of the following is more likely to be elected? • U.S. Senate challenger • U.S. Senate incumbent • U.S. House challenger • U.S. House incumbent

Money in U.S. Elections 6.3 • Efforts at Reform • Resisting Reform • Continuing Problems with Campaign Finance

Video: In the Real World 6.3 http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg5_Elections_v2.html

Efforts at Reform The Federal Election Campaign Act Followed by creation of the Federal Election Commission Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) Soft money Contribution limits and disclosure Independent expenditures 6.3

6.3 FIGURE 6.4: Presidential primary cumulative receipts, 2011–2012 (millions of dollars)

Resisting Reform Issue advocacy Buckley v. Valeo (1976) Independent expenditures Unlimited Super PACs Citizens United v. FEC (2010) 6.3

Continuing Problems with Campaign Finance Costly campaigns only for the wealthy Incumbents have the advantage PAC money goes to incumbents 6.3

6.3 FIGURE 6.5: Super PACs and million dollar donors in 2012 presidential election campaign

6.3 TABLE 6.1: Average campaign expenditures of candidates for House of Representatives, 1966–2010 general election

6.3 FIGURE 6.6: How PACs and others allocated campaign contributions to House candidates, 2009–2010

Continuing Problems with Campaign Finance Candidates’ personal wealth Growth in individual contributions and use of the Internet to fund campaigns 6.3

6.3 6.3What kind of contribution is limited, must be disclosed, and is given directly by a donor to a candidate? • Soft money • Hard money • PAC money • Super PAC money

Changing Landscape of the U.S. News Media 6.4 • Pervasiveness of Television • Persistence of Radio • Declining Importance of Newspapers • and Newsmagazines • Growing Popularity of the Internet • The Press and Politics

TV changed politics forever Instant access to news and events 24/7 news cycle 6.4 Pervasiveness of Television

6.4 Television in Times Square

TV’s influence has changed over time Less time spent on reporting politics Increases in political advertising Issues Candidates 6.4 Pervasiveness of Television

Reaches more households than TV “Drive-time” news radio Radio as a campaign tool Distinctive radio audiences Micro-targeting specific groups National Public Radio (NPR) 6.4 Persistence of Radio

Decline in circulation over past 20 years Fewer young people read newspapers 6.4 Declining Importance of Newspapers and Newsmagazines

Campaigns, Elections, and the Media