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.
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
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
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