American Government American Government and Organizationand Organization

PS1301PS1301

Friday, 10 OctoberFriday, 10 October

QuizQuiz

Should the Electoral College be Should the Electoral College be Reformed? If so why? If not why not?Reformed? If so why? If not why not?

Identify and discuss two possible reforms Identify and discuss two possible reforms to the Electoral College. What are their to the Electoral College. What are their advantages/disadvantages?advantages/disadvantages?

Public Support for Reforming Public Support for Reforming the Electoral Collegethe Electoral College

Eliminate Electoral College -- 52%Eliminate Electoral College -- 52%

Allocates Electoral College votes based Allocates Electoral College votes based on the popular vote in Congressional on the popular vote in Congressional districts - 46% agreed with this changedistricts - 46% agreed with this change Note: National survey conducted March 26, 2001 to April 9,2001. There were Note: National survey conducted March 26, 2001 to April 9,2001. There were

1500 respondents to the survey, which was a random-digit dialing telephone 1500 respondents to the survey, which was a random-digit dialing telephone survey conducted by professional interviewers from Interviewing Services of survey conducted by professional interviewers from Interviewing Services of America, Inc.America, Inc.

The Road to the White HouseThe Road to the White House

Presidential Nominations Presidential Nominations before 1972before 1972

Delegates sent to conventions were Delegates sent to conventions were picked by sate and local party leaderspicked by sate and local party leadersThis gave party officials, rather than This gave party officials, rather than voters, direct control over who would run voters, direct control over who would run for president under the party’s bannerfor president under the party’s bannerThe Conventions were often a mystery as The Conventions were often a mystery as candidates bargained and built coalitions candidates bargained and built coalitions among the party elite in their attempts to among the party elite in their attempts to win the support of a majority of delegates.win the support of a majority of delegates.

Impact of Reforms Impact of Reforms

Process of nominating candidates is now Process of nominating candidates is now more “candidate centered” rather than more “candidate centered” rather than “party centered”.“party centered”.

Methods of Selecting Presidential Methods of Selecting Presidential DelegatesDelegates

CaucusesCaucuses Party members meet in small groups to select the Party members meet in small groups to select the

party’s delegates to the national conventionparty’s delegates to the national convention

Closed primaryClosed primary Only a party’s registered votersOnly a party’s registered voters

Open primaryOpen primary Independents and sometimes members of the other Independents and sometimes members of the other

partyparty

Blanket primaryBlanket primary Voters are permitted to vote in either party’s primary Voters are permitted to vote in either party’s primary

(but not both) on an office by office basis(but not both) on an office by office basis

How States Vary in Selecting How States Vary in Selecting DelegatesDelegates

Front loadingFront loading

70% of all delegates are chosen before the end 70% of all delegates are chosen before the end of Marchof March

Benefits the front runnerBenefits the front runner

Benefits the candidate who can raise the bulk of Benefits the candidate who can raise the bulk of the money the money beforebefore the nomination process the nomination process

Increases the importance of the “invisible Increases the importance of the “invisible primary”—the year prior to the official nomination primary”—the year prior to the official nomination season when candidates raise moneyseason when candidates raise money

Beginning Schedule in 2004Beginning Schedule in 2004JANUARY 19, 2004:JANUARY 19, 2004:IowaIowa - Presidential Caucuses - Presidential Caucuses

JANUARY 27, 2004:JANUARY 27, 2004:New HampshireNew Hampshire - Presidential - Presidential Primary Primary

FEBRUARY 3, 2004:FEBRUARY 3, 2004:ArizonaArizona - Presidential Primary - Presidential PrimaryDelawareDelaware - Presidential Primary - Presidential PrimaryMissouriMissouri - Presidential Primary - Presidential PrimaryNew MexicoNew Mexico - Presidential Caucuses - Presidential CaucusesOklahomaOklahoma - Presidential Primary - Presidential PrimarySouth CarolinaSouth Carolina - Presidential Primary - Presidential Primary

FEBRUARY 7, 2004:FEBRUARY 7, 2004:Michigan Michigan - Presidential Caucuses- Presidential CaucusesWashington StateWashington State - Democratic - Democratic Presidential Caucuses Presidential Caucuses

FEBRUARY 8, 2004:FEBRUARY 8, 2004:MaineMaine - Presidential Caucuses - Presidential Caucuses

FEBRUARY 10, 2004:FEBRUARY 10, 2004:District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia - Democratic - Democratic Presidential CaucusesPresidential CaucusesTennesseeTennessee - Presidential Primary - Presidential PrimaryVirginiaVirginia - Democratic Presidential - Democratic Presidential Primary Primary

FEBRUARY 17, 2004:FEBRUARY 17, 2004:WisconsinWisconsin - Presidential Primary - Presidential Primary

Deck is stacked against Deck is stacked against challengerschallengers

Half of the Republican delegates awarded Half of the Republican delegates awarded after the first six weeks. after the first six weeks.

News coverage and public interest fades News coverage and public interest fades shortly after the primary season beginsshortly after the primary season begins

Public Interest in the 2000 Public Interest in the 2000 Presidential ElectionPresidential Election

Impact of New Hampshire PrimaryImpact of New Hampshire Primary

MomentumMomentum

Depends on expectationsDepends on expectations

Example of Bill Clinton in 1992Example of Bill Clinton in 1992

McCain in 2000McCain in 2000

Compact schedule (front loading) can kill Compact schedule (front loading) can kill the momentum from New Hampshirethe momentum from New Hampshire

News CoverageNews Coverage

Impact of New Hampshire PrimaryImpact of New Hampshire Primary

Opinion about the CandidatesOpinion about the Candidates

Republican Schedule in 2000Republican Schedule in 2000

Delegate Selection RulesDelegate Selection Rules