Campaigns, Elections, and Political Parties 3/14/25

American elections, which still

Are largely determined primarily by

1. Internal Factors - Party Identification

2. External Factors - the state of the economy

Effects of Campaigns

1. Reinforcement - Bring Political Partisans back

Into the fold.

2. Persuasion - on issues and candidates

3. Priming - actually frame the issues, and

Define the candidate

4. Mobilization and conversion of the general

Public.

5. The Non-Optimal Impact. Gaffes reveal character

Or the candidates ability to react.

1. Primaries - Unique to the USA

a. winnow the field

b. raise resources - campaign staff, funds

c. Build Momentum. "Big Mo."

d. Often take a "horse race" dynamic in

which policy considerations are underplayed.

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e. unique and odd features: New Hampshire with

its emphasis on retail and personal campaigns.

The clarifying campaign

emphasizes issues and the

Candidate's connection to these issues (peace, prosperity,

National strength etc). Incumbent or Establishment figures.

Gerrymandering

makes primary challenges more

important than general election. Polarization

The City and Rural Divide

1. Cities - Mobility. More liberal, open and

Cosmopolitan. Higher education levels,

Younger population (people moving to

Cities). Social liberalism.

2. Rural areas are less innovative. Conservative,

Less diversity, much more elderly in average

Age, losing population, over-represented in

Political terms

Political Party

A coalition of citizens who cooperate

In order to control the government by winning elections.

Highest authority in any political party

the national convention

The David Mayhew thesis

it is good that we have

Two major political parties. This contributes to

Overall partisan balancing rather than the warring

Hostility and constant maneuvering of many political

Parties. This is good for the overall system.