The Candidates

Who they are• OccupationOccupation

– Lawyers – 56 with JD, 49 practicedLawyers – 56 with JD, 49 practiced– Business – Various backgrounds, 7 Business – Various backgrounds, 7

with MBAwith MBA– 19 Career Politicians, 2 MDs, 2 19 Career Politicians, 2 MDs, 2

Military, and various othersMilitary, and various others

• Race, Gender, Personal backgroundRace, Gender, Personal background– Predominantly white, male, and Predominantly white, male, and

Christian and straightChristian and straight

Eligibility• President: natural born citizen, 35 President: natural born citizen, 35

yrs old, 14 yrs residenceyrs old, 14 yrs residence• Vice-President: Same as President, Vice-President: Same as President,

but must be from different statebut must be from different state• Senator: Citizen for 9 years, 30 yrs Senator: Citizen for 9 years, 30 yrs

old and resident of state old and resident of state • Representative: Citizen for 7 years, Representative: Citizen for 7 years,

25 yrs old and resident of state 25 yrs old and resident of state

CampaigningCampaigning• Candidate-CenteredCandidate-Centered

– Result of tech advance and costResult of tech advance and cost– Need for large campaign Need for large campaign

organizationorganization•Raise money, get media coverage, Raise money, get media coverage,

shape image, conduct research and shape image, conduct research and pollingpolling

– Less dependence on PartyLess dependence on Party• Increase in IndependentsIncrease in Independents

StrategyStrategy• Political ConsultantsPolitical Consultants

– Hired to create strategy and run Hired to create strategy and run campaigncampaign

– Tend to be partisan, expensiveTend to be partisan, expensive

• Three Pronged StrategyThree Pronged Strategy1.1. Viability and AppealViability and Appeal

2.2. PollingPolling

3.3. Focus GroupsFocus Groups

Willard Mitt Romney

• Age: 64 • Education: BA from BYU;

JD/MBA Harvard• Work experience: Founded

Bain Capital, Chaired 2002 Winter Olympics

• Government Experience: Governor of Massachusetts, 2003 - 2007

Newton Leroy Gingrich

• Age: 69• Education: BA from Emory;

MA & PhD Tulane (History) • Work Experience: taught

history and geography at West Georgia University

• Governmental experience: U.S. House of Reps– Minority whip 88-95– Speaker 95-99

Richard John Santorum

• Age: 53• Education: BA Penn State,

MBA Pitt, JD Dickenson• Work Experience: Lawyer,

political consultant, media• Government Experience:

U.S. House of Reps 91 – 94, U.S. Senate 95 - 06

Ronald Ernest Paul

• Age: 77• Education: BS Gettysburg,

MD Duke Med• USAF 63-68• Work Experience: OB/GYN,

writer• Government Experience:

U.S. House of Reps 76-77, 79-85, 97 -

Barack Hussein Obama II

• Age: • Education: BA Columbia, JD

Harvard• Work Experience: Community

Organizer, Civil Rights Lawyer, Law Professor

• Government Experience: IL state senate 97-04, U.S. Senate 05-08, POTUS 09 -