starter activity

Watch part of Michelle Obama’s speech at the 2008 Democratic Convention. What part do the partners of candidates play in winning presidential campaigns?

How is the tone of Sarah Brown, the PM’s wife’s speech different at the 2008 Labour Conference?

How important are How important are the national the national nominating nominating

conventions?conventions?To understand and assess the To understand and assess the role of NNC’s in the selection role of NNC’s in the selection

of presidential candidatesof presidential candidates

Aims

What part do national party conventions play in the election process of presidential candidates?

Your taskYour task

Read about the functions of National Party Read about the functions of National Party Conventions, p.62-70 and complete a chart Conventions, p.62-70 and complete a chart similar to the one below.similar to the one below.

Highlight in green all the evidence to Highlight in green all the evidence to suggest conventions play a vital role in the suggest conventions play a vital role in the election processelection process

Bill Clinton endorses Barack Obama, Democratic Convention, 2008

Senator Edward Kennedy, speaking at the 1980 Democratic Convention after failing to

win the presidential nomination of his party.

ReviewReview

List 3 formal and 3 informal functions List 3 formal and 3 informal functions of NNCsof NNCs

What evidence is there that the What evidence is there that the choice of presidential candidate is a choice of presidential candidate is a foregone conclusion?foregone conclusion?

What is a party platform and a party What is a party platform and a party plank?plank?

What’s the ‘bounce’ and why is it so What’s the ‘bounce’ and why is it so important?important?

Your taskYour task

Read p.68-70 and complete a table similar Read p.68-70 and complete a table similar to the one below highlighting the to the one below highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of modern-day strengths and weaknesses of modern-day conventions.conventions.

Strengths Weaknesses

StrengthsStrengths

Identify future winnersIdentify future winners ““Elections may have become less Elections may have become less

newsworthy, but they are still newsworthy, but they are still important” (Stephen Wayne, 2001)important” (Stephen Wayne, 2001)

Rallying events for campaigners & Rallying events for campaigners & electorateelectorate

Vote HigginsFor President

WeaknessesWeaknesses

Recent opinion polls suggest voters Recent opinion polls suggest voters doubt their importance (Washington doubt their importance (Washington POst=-ABC, 2008, 12% rated NCCs POst=-ABC, 2008, 12% rated NCCs as ‘extremely important’)as ‘extremely important’)

NCCs are ‘scripted &sanitised’NCCs are ‘scripted &sanitised’ Decline of TV coverageDecline of TV coverage

DebateDebate

Divide into two sides. Run a boxing Divide into two sides. Run a boxing debate on the importance of national debate on the importance of national conventions in the presidential conventions in the presidential election process.election process.

PlenaryPlenary

What are the formal and informal What are the formal and informal functions of national conventions?functions of national conventions?

On balance do you think they are a On balance do you think they are a necessary part of the presidential necessary part of the presidential election process?election process?

Guess the event in the presidential election process.

HomeworkHomework

Read Bennett, p.51-6 and take notes Read Bennett, p.51-6 and take notes on the importance of print on the importance of print journalism, television news, journalism, television news, commercials and debates. Write a commercials and debates. Write a judgement paragraph on which is judgement paragraph on which is the most influential media to daythe most influential media to day