Election Campaigns

1. Why do we have elections?
   

   1. United States is a representative democracy
      

      1. Anyone over age 18 can vote if he/she is not a convicted felon
         

2. Two cycles of an election
   

   1. Primary election
      Each party selects its candidates

      1. Republicans
         

      2. Democrats
         

   2. General election
      Chooses the winner

      1. First Tuesday in November
         

3. The Four M's of an election
   

   1. MESSAGE
      Candidates spend a huge amount of time forming messages and then getting their messages out. Messages describe how the candidate will do things once elected. Candidates declare positions on issues, propose solutions to problems and make comments on society. The messages build an image of the candidate in the mind of the voters.

      1. Lawn signs
         

      2. Baby kissing & handshaking
         

      3. Web sites
         

      4. News stories
         Reporting on the candidate's speeches and press conferences.

      5. Direct mail
         

      6. TV, radio & newspaper ads
         

      7. Bumper stickers
         

      8. Speeches
         

      9. Telephone calls by supporters
         

   2. MEDIA
      The media -- TV, radio, newspapers -- play a big part in getting a candidate's message to the masses.

      1. Paid media
         Paid media usually involves TV and radio ads, direct mail, web sites, etc. Paid media tends to be concentrated in the 60 days leading up to the election.

      2. Free or "earned" media
         Public relations activities

   3. MACHINE
      The machine is the organization that runs the campaign. This organization delivers the campaign's message in non-media ways and raises money to keep the campaign running. These grass roots efforts make or break most campaigns, so they are incredibly important. Candidates spend a great deal of time building energy in his/her supporters.

      1. Paid staff
         

      2. Volunteers & supporters
         

   4. MONEY
      

      1. Candidate contributions
         

      2. Individual contributions
         

      3. PAC contributions
         

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