Take a Guess!

We elected a new president in November 2008. We were voting for John McCain from the Republican Party or Barack Obama from the Democrat Party. If you went back to November 2007 how many people were running for president from the Republican party? _________ From the Democrat party? ______

How many can you remember?

Presidential Candidates- November 2007 Republican Party

• John McCain, U.S. Senator from Arizona • Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas • Mitt Romney, former Governor of

Massachusetts • Ron Paul, U.S. Representative from Texas • Fred Thompson, former U.S. Senator from

Tennessee • Duncan Hunter, U.S. Representative from

California • Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City • Alan Keyes, former U.S. Ambassador from

Maryland • Sam Brownback, U.S. Senator from Kansas • Jim Gilmore, former Governor of Virginia • Tom Tancredo, former U.S. Representative

from Colorado • Tommy Thompson, former Governor of

Wisconsin

Democrat Party• Barack Obama, U.S. Senator from

Illinois • Hillary Clinton, U.S. Senator from

New York • John Edwards, former U.S. Senator

from North Carolina • Bill Richardson, Governor of

New Mexico • Dennis Kucinich, U.S. Representative

from Ohio • Joe Biden, U.S. Senator from Delaware • Mike Gravel, former U.S. Senator from

Alaska • Christopher Dodd, U.S. Senator from

Connecticut • Tom Vilsack, former Governor of Iowa

The Election Process

• Primary- an election to decide nominee• Closed Primary- only party members may vote– What we have in PA

• Open Primary- any registered voter may vote

Closed Primaries

Benefits• Prevents “party

raiding”• Ensures candidate is

more responsive to own party

Criticisms• Excludes

independent voters• Compromises

secrecy

Types of Elections

• Presidential- every 4 years, even years– 2008, 2004, 2000, etc

• Mid-Term- every 4 years (between the presidential elections), even years– 2010, 2006, 2002, etc

• Off-Year- when needed, odd years, usually for state offices, mayors, etc.– 2009, 2007, 2005, etc.