Ch 9 - Elections - Class 1

1. What are the various stages of the modern presidential election, and why has it become so long?

1. Quiz: Chapter 09 - Elections
• When you finish the quiz... what is the latest at the class twitter conversation?
• What news can you find and share with the class?
2. Case Study: 2000 Presidential Election and Journeys with George (EQ #1)
• What is the order of events in the presidential election?
• What is the relationship between the campaign and the media?
• What surprises you?
3. Summarize: Stages of Modern Presidential Election (EQ #1)
• Stage One: How do candidates win the unofficial party nomination?
• Build a campaign staff
• Gain a fundraising advantage to be taken seriously
• Embrace symbiotic relationship with the media
• Prepare to target the base/rank-and-file in mostly closed primaries
• Establish name recognition and bandwagon effect by winning Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire Primary
• Benefit from horse race journalism by taking early lead in national polls
• Win as many early primaries and caucuses to accumulate delegates and superdelegates
• Try to force other candidates to drop out after Super Tuesday before remaining primaries and caucuses are over
• Select a Vice Presidential running mate who balances the ticket
• Stage Two: How do candidates become the official nominee?
• Party conventions officially nominate a ticket (President and VP), formalize party platforms, and unify behind the ticket 
• Stage Three: How do candidates campaign to win the general election? 
• Candidates focus on battleground/swing/toss-up states in the electoral college with voter registration, rallies, campaign ads, and phone-banking 
• Candidates "move to the middle" to appeal to undecided voters
• Candidates engage in debates
• Focus on get-out-the-vote 
• Win the general election
4. Analysis: Increasing Length of Modern Presidential Election (EQ #1)
• Why has it become so long?
• Leapfrogging and frontloading in the 2012 primary schedule
• Look at the past dates for the Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire Primaries
• Criticisms and possible reforms