Campaigns and Elections

1. POL 140
Fall 2014

4. States had discretion
over presidential selection
Office designed with
Washington in mind;
No real details included
Office above partisan
politics; Leaders acting in
national interest

5. How do we calculate a state’s
number of electoral votes?
Determined by their
congressional representation
(number of Representatives
and Senators)
Kentucky has 8 electoral votes,
because we have 6 house
There are 538 total votes representatives and 2 senators)
in the Electoral College.
A presidential candidate needs
270 to win the election.

8. The House
 Allotted based on proportional representation
 Entire House up for election every two years
The Senate
 Each state has two senators, regardless of size
 Seventeenth Amendment provided for direct
election of the Senate
 Terms are staggered

15. “Hard Money”: Money given directly to candidates; amounts limited by election laws
“Soft Money”: Unregulated dollars given by parties or individuals for
“electioneering activities,” that do not directly support candidates (i.e. issue
advocacy)

17. Swing states are colored on the U.S. map and table.
They can “flip,” changing support for Republican or Democratic
nominees depending on the election.
They are valuable by candidates and their campaigns.

18. Microtargeting refers to when a campaign tailors specifics ads to
certain demographic groups (e.g. women, the elderly, young
people) in an attempt to get them to vote for their candidate.

19. Valence Issue: Issues that most voters agree on
(e.g. honesty in govt., a strong economy)
Position Issue: Issues on which most voters
differ in their perspectives and proposed
solutions (e.g. health care)
Wedge Issue: Controversial issue candidates
use to drive “wedge” between, or break up,
coalition of the other party
 Example: Republican trying get Democrats who may
be anti-abortion to vote for him instead of Obama

21. The Economy
 What is the condition of the economy?
Presidential Popularity
 How popular is the sitting president?
Incumbent Party’s Time in Office
 How long has the incumbent party controlled
the White House?

27. PARTY ID

28. PRESIDENTIAL COATTAILS
Ability of major party
candidates to attract
voters and support to
other candidates of their
party in different races
(e.g. congressional
candidates)