political parties, candidates, and campaigns -...
TRANSCRIPT
OPENING
Political Party – an ongoing coalition of
interests joined together in an effort to get its
candidates for public office elected under a
common belief
U.S. campaigns are party-centered and
candidate centered
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Party Competition and Majority
Rule: The History of U.S. Parties
The first parties
Federalists – Alexander Hamilton
Republicans – Thomas Jefferson
Republicans transform into Democrats
Andrew Jackson & grassroots parties
Dependent upon voter support
Democrats vs. Whigs (anti-Jackson)
Democrats split their vote in 1860 allowing the first
Republican, Abraham Lincoln, to win with only 40% of the
vote
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Party Competition and Majority
Rule: The History of U.S. Parties
Republicans vs. Democrats
Enduring two-party system since Civil War
Ability to adapt during periods of crisis
Partisan realignments during crises
Disruption of the existing political order because of powerful and
divisive issues
Election in which voters shift their support in favor of one party
Major change in policy
Enduring change in the party coalitions
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Party Competition and Majority
Rule: The History of U.S. Parties
History of realignments Civil War—Republicans gain control
Republicans in the North and Democrats in the “solid south”
During the next three decades the Republicans held the presidency
except for Grover Cleveland
1896—Republicans solidify control (added additional support with
progressives)
During the next four decades the Republicans held the presidency
except for Woodrow Wilson
1932—Democrats gain control – FDR’s elections began a 36 year
period of Democratic presidents except for Dwight Eisenhower
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Realignments have effect on future elections
because they affect voters’ party identification.
Young or new voters establish a long lasting base
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Party Competition and Majority
Rule: The History of U.S. Parties
Today’s party alignment
Republicans
Dominant in South – change due to the Vietnam War
and Civil Rights movement
Conservative stance on social issues, domestic spending
Republicans have held the presidency for over twice as
many years as the Democrats
Known as the GOP (Grand Old Party)
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Party Competition and Majority
Rule: The History of U.S. Parties
Today’s party alignment
Democrats
Dominant in Northeast – growing size of minority
populations
Liberal on social issues and domestic spending
Realignments have been gradual over the years rather
than because of an abrupt change.
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Party Competition and Majority
Rule: The History of U.S. Parties
Parties and the vote
Strength of party identification
Rarity of true independents
Split ticket voting – a sign of dealignment (weakening
of party power)
Prospective voting vs. retrospective voting
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Electoral and Party Systems
Single-member-district system – plurality
voting
Vs. proportional representation
Policies & coalitions in two-party system
Seeking the center
Party coalitions – relatively broad and includes
voters of nearly every ethnic, religious, and
economic grouping
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Electoral and Party Systems
Minor (third) parties – bring issues to light that the two
major parties will ultimately adopt
Reform parties - Progressive
Single-issue parties – Free Soil, Prohibition
Factional parties – Bull Moose Party
Ideological parties – Libertarian, Socialist
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Party Organization
Weakening of party organizations Parties used to control nominations and elections; now is the
people and the candidates themselves
Primary election/direct primary
Closed vs. open primary
Blanket primary
Caucus
Money goes directly to candidate rather than party
Decline in patronage – merit system
Patronage now comes from the candidate
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Party Organization
Structure & role of party organizations
Local party organizations
Parties are organized from the bottom up
State party organizations
Central committee headed by a chairman
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Party Organization
National party organizations
Structure of the national parties – setting policy,
determining site of national convention, and setting the
rules governing the selection of convention delegates
Chairman is selected by the president
The parties and money
Hard money – money given directly to the candidate
which is subject to strict limits; candidate can spend it
as he or she chooses
Soft money – unlimited money given to the candidate’s
party for party building purposes
14
Party Organization
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act – prohibits
national and state parties from raising or
spending soft money
Ban does not apply to 527 groups (not for profit)
Issue advocacy
MoveOn and Swift Boat
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Candidate-Centered Campaign
Campaign funds: money chase Incumbents has a distinct advantage
House - $1million
Senate - $6 million
President - $200 million
Organization and strategy: hired guns Campaign consultants (Dick Morris, Karl Rove, Rahm Emanuel),
pollsters, media producers (photo ops and sound bites), fundraisers, and
get out the vote specialists
Candidate packaging
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Candidate-Centered Campaign
Voter contacts: pitched battles
Air wars – accounts for more than half of
campaign spending
Debates
Ground wars – contact by phone or in person
Get the swing voters
Web wars – internet is the preferred choice for fund-
raising and interacting with supporters and TV is the best
choice for achieving public recognition and reaching less-
interested voters
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Parties, Candidates,
Public’s Influence
Candidate centered system provides opportunities for
newcomers to gain office quickly
Encourages national officeholders to be responsive to local
interests
Engage in mud-slinging contest and allow for more special
interest group influence
Weakens accountability
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