CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES

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CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES
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TRUMAN-DEWEY RACE - 1948

• EFFECTIVE BARNSTORMING

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1948
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NOBODY LIKED TRUMAN!

• Truman was a nobody from Missouri whod become
  Pres. after FDR died. Hed dropped the atomic
  bomb and started the Cold War, Marshall Plan,
  Korean War, etc. He had none of FDRs charisma,
  polish or sophistication.
• Thomas Dewey was considered a shoo-in. He was a
  popular Republican Governor of New York, had been
  a tough prosecutor. Movie-star looks.
• Considered the election his to lose.

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MORE TROUBLE!

• Trumans Democratic party was splintered
• Strom Thurmond ran for Dixiecrats
  anti-integration Southern Democrats outraged at
  Trumans civil rights stands
• Henry Wallace ran on Progressive ticket left
  wing Democrats and Socialists who didnt like his
  handling of a steel strike

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TRUMANS WHISTLE-STOP CAMPAIGN
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Trumans campaign

• Do you want to be called a whistle-stop or do
  you want to be called a town?
• Legend of Give em hell Harry
• Dewey didnt campaign hard came across as cocky
  and arrogant

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The Outcome!
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WORKING THE PRIMARIES - JFK

• Traditionally, candidates were chosen by party
  leaders, often in smoke-filled rooms with
  behind-the-scenes deals.

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1960

• Multiple Democratic candidates Lyndon Johnson
  (Texas), Hubert Humphrey (Minnesota), Stuart
  Symington (Missouri), John F. Kennedy
  (Massachusetts), Adlai Stevenson (Illinois)

Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri Former Governor Adlai Stevenson of Illinois Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota
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Kennedy worked the primaries, convinced bosses he
could win
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Worries about his youth and religion eased by
primary victories
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2008 Capture the Caucuses

• Obama vs. Clinton, Edwards, etc.
• Hillary Clinton considered frontrunner from Day 1
  The Inevitable next Prez.

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(No Transcript)
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Obama goes after wins in small caucus
states-proves he can win
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Uses Internet techniques like meetups pioneered
by Howard Dean in 2004

• Enthusiasm of followers, esp. youth, erodes
  Hillarys support, her campaign falters.

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http//politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/re
sults/delegates/index.html
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Obama captures the big bucks and support, locks
up the nomination
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OTHER STRATEGIES

• Ticket balancing geographic, ethnic, etc.
• Select an omnibus candidate preferably a
  popular general
• Name recognition
• Master the news cycle.
• The low road negative campaigning

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http//www.livingroomcandidate.org/
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Manipulative Techniques

• STRAW MAN
• GLITTERING GENERALITIES
• BANDWAGON
• CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS
• APPEAL TO FEAR
• DECK-STACKING
• GOTCHA out of context quotes