Nominations and Campaigns

1
Nominations and Campaigns

• Caucuses
• Vs.
• Primaries
• History of Conventions.doc

2
1968 DNC - Chicago
3
McGovern-Fraser Commission

• End of the Smoke-Filled Room
• Convention Delegates would be selected by
  PRIMARIES
• Limits the power of Party Leaders
• Democrats
• Superdelegates
• 15 for Peer
• Review

4
Frontloading

• Early Caucuses and Primaries receive too much
  media attention- gives the media too much power
  to label winners and losers.
• Distorts the campaign.

5
Money and Campaigns

• Federal Election Campaign Act (1974)
• Initiated Public Financing of Elections- the
  Presidential Election Fund (Matching Funds in the
  primaries with strings attached). Led to the
  modern Clean Elections Movement.
• Provided for federal funding in the General
  Election- in 2004 Bush Kerry got 75 million.
• Limited individual contributions to 1000- in
  2008 the amount increased to 2500.
• Required candidates to report all contributions
  and account for how the money was spent.
• Created the Federal Election Commission.

6
FECA Legal Loopholes

• Soft Money- unlimited contributions to the Party.
  Buckley v. Valeo (1976) Speech
• McCain-Feingold Act (2002) banned soft money
  issue ads 60 days before a general election,
  unless the ad is paid for by a FEC regulated PAC.
  Created New Loopholes. . . 527s
• McConnell v. FEC (2003) said McCain-Feingold was
  constitutional in a 5-4 decision.
• 2. Political Action Committees (PACs)- created
  by interest groups to influence policy through
  campaign contributions.

7
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
2010

• Rules that corporations may spend freely to
  support or oppose candidates for president and
  Congress. The court overturns Austin v. Michigan
  Chamber of Commerce, saying that the expenditure
  ban invalidated" in Buckley v. Valeo applies to
  corporations and unions, not just individuals.
  The ruling does not affect prohibition on direct
  contributions to candidates from corporations and
  unions . . . SUPER PACs http//www.thedailyshow.c
  om/watch/tue-january-17-2012/colbert-super-pac---n
  ot-coordinating-with-stephen-colbert

8
Political Action Committees

• The Skys the Limit for the Amount PACs can
  Spend
• PACs act independently of the candidate.
• PACs must register with the FEC.
• 527s are like PACs, but dont register with the
  FEC (non profit register w/IRS) can receive
  unlimited soft money contributions.
• Examples of 527s in the 2004 Election Swift
  Boat Veterans for Truth MoveOn.org.
• For More Info on Political Action Committees

9
Changes in the Way Corporations Can Finance
Campaigns

• Changes in the Way Corporations Can Finance
  Campaigns - Graphic - NYTimes.com
• Lobbyists Get Potent Weapon in Campaign Finance
  Ruling - NYTimes.com

10
2008 Democratic Primary

• 8 Minute Summary of the Longest Primary Battle in
  American Political History
• http//link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid2715
  57392/bctid1593347006