Poli 103A California Politics: Movement and Elections

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Poli 103A California PoliticsMovement and
Elections
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Movements and Elections

• Nuts and Bolts of a District Campaign
• Whats Your Message?
• What Medium Will You Use to Get it Out?
• How Good is Your Field Operation?
• Local vs. State vs. Federal Campaigns

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Nuts and BoltsMessage

• A candidates message is the one thing she wants
  voters to have in mind when they enter the ballot
  box.
• For the Santa Monica Renters Rights group, the
  message was Without rent control, elderly
  residents will lose their homes and be cheated
  out of the Californian Dream. -- Issue

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Nuts and BoltsMessage

• A candidates message can also be based on that
  candidates biography.
• Karen R.Underwood
• 74th Assembly District
• "Creating a Healthier California"
• I represent people, not politics. I am a Doctor
  who knows the needs of the healthcare system, a
  small business owner who understands the
  importance of a strong economy, and a mother who
  understands the value of a good public education
  system. Together, this combination is a
  prescription for success for the 74th district
  and for California. Yes, the Doctor is in!

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Nuts and BoltsMessage

• A candidates message can also be based on that
  candidates performance as well as the opponents
  performance.

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Nuts and Bolts Medium

• Campaigns try to communicate their message to
  voters through both free media (e.g., newspapers
  or television news) and paid media.
• Candidates have much less control over the
  message given by free media. But it is free.

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Nuts and Bolts Medium

• Whether television (either free or paid) is a
  feasible and cost-effective way to reach voters
  depends on both the level of office and the
  drawing of media markets.

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Nuts and BoltsMedium

• In statewide races, candidates can expect to get
  their messages out through paid TV and free
  media.
• In district races, candidates rarely raise enough
  money to get on TV and cannot hope for much
  coverage from local television or newspapers.
• Los Angeles has15 City Councilmembers, 18
  Senators, 36 Assemblymembers, 21 members of
  Congress, and one major newspaper.

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Nuts and Bolts MediumAssembly Districts and
Media Markets
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Nuts and Bolts MediumState Senate Districts and
Media Markets
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Nuts and Bolts MediumState Congressional
Districts and Media Markets
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Nuts and BoltsMedium

• Candidates in district races have to get their
  own message out through
• Direct mail. It costs about 30,000 to send one
  piece in an Assembly race.
• Paid phone banking. Hi, this is Martin Sheen,
  calling you about an important election on
  Tuesday
• Walking door-to-door with supporters.

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Nuts and BoltsField

• Step 1. Identifying your supporters.
• Begin with lists from the registrar of voters
  which tell you what party someone has registered
  with and how often they vote.
• Call or knock on doors of these voters, grouped
  by precinct.
• Find out whether people are supporters,
  opponents, or swing voters.

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Nuts and BoltsField

• Precincts in Del Mar
• You can walk about one precinct in one day
• Calling is quicker, but less effective
• Harder and harder to get people to open their
  door or answer their phone

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Nuts and BoltsField

• Step 2. Letting your supporters work for you.
• Give them bumper stickers and yard signs with
  your name on it.
• See if they will walk precincts with you.
• Would they like to make a donation?
• If they really love you, perhaps theyll host a
  coffee to help you fundraise.

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Nuts and BoltsField
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Nuts and BoltsField

• Step 3. Getting Out the Vote (GOTV)
• Recruit lots of volunteers.
• Have them phone bank, calling supporters to
  remind them of their election day and the polling
  place.
• On election day, volunteers can check in at
  precincts to see who has voted. If supporters
  have not turned out, call or knock on their door
  offering help to get to the polls.

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Local vs. State vs. Federal Campaigns
Similarities

• In California, unlike most states, some state and
  local districts are larger than federal
  districts
• 670,000 per Congressional District
• 890,000 per Senate District
• 445,000 per Assembly District
• 257,000 per L.A. City Council
• 2 million per L.A. County Supervisor

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Local vs. State vs. Federal Campaigns
Differences

• State and federal elections are partisan, with
  state-run primary elections determining who will
  represent each party in the general election.
• Local elections are non-partisan, with no labels
  appearing on ballots and no primaries. Very
  often, they feature a run-off between the two
  leading candidates.

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Local vs. State vs. Federal Campaigns
Differences

• You can only give 2,000 to a federal candidate,
  up from 1000 before the new McCain-Feingold
  law.
• You can only give 21,200 to a state candidate
  under Prop. 34, and there were no limits before
  that.
• Local laws vary, but often have tighter limits
  with public financing.

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Presidential Primary Campaigns in California

• In September of 1998, then Governor Pete Wilson
  signed a bill into law moving Californias
  primary date up from June to March.
• Proponents of the bill hoped this would give the
  state greater clout in choosing the parties
  nominees for president as well as cause
  candidates to pay more attention to the state.

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Presidential Primary Campaigns in California

• Total ads aired by presidential primary
  candidates in CA in 2000 (data for Top 75 markets
  in nation only)
• Fresno-Visalia (55) 2,076
• Los Angeles (2) 2,749
• Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto (20) 2,151
• San Diego (26) 1,251
• San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose (5) 1,522