Why are US presidential campaigns so long? (15)
1st Point Invisible Primary:
- Period before the first primary election - effectively beginning as soon as the last election has ended- it is the
period when party candidates position themselves to run for presidencies
- Funding→ increased importance over ‘war chest’- candidates look to gain funding for their campaigns
- Flair + EX: Due to the importance or funding- this has lengthened the process of presidential campaigns as
candidates look to announce their candidacy earlier→ in recent years the importance of the invisible
primaries has increased due to the increased significance of funding
- EX: JFK announced candidacy only 66 days before the first Primary→ Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich
announced his candidacy on the 11th of May 2011- 278 days before the Iowa caucus
2nd Point - Frontloading
- Frontloading is the process by which states attempt to move the dates of their primaries earlier in order to
gain importance.
- It is known that primaries that are earlier in the election cycle tend to get the most attention
- This can be shown by the importance of winning Iowa and New Hampshire
- This process makes the presidential campaign so long as it makes the start date earlier than it should be
which extends the process further.
- EX: Frontloading was done very intensely by states including New Hampshire + Florida in 2008. They
frontloaded so much that it went against party rules and their ECV’s were penalised as they only received
half the delegates they were supposed to.
- ^^ Flair: This meant that the invisible primary had to start earlier and with greater intensity- further
lengthening the process of a presidential campaign
Point 3- Excessive Primaries and Caucuses:
- The primaries are often used as a testing ground for candidates to iron out political campaigns, establish a
network of grassroots support and gauge the demands of the electorate, in this way, Obama was able to
establish a network of offices across the USA and develop his ‘change we can believe in’ campaign before the
end of the primary season
- EX: Rick Perry, governor of Texas forgot which EXOP branch he wanted to reform as he may have taken part in
so many primaries and caucuses that it may have taken mental strain.
- Flair – This may become even more significant by the fact that there is a large Republican field – as well as
the fact that if Bernie Sander’s proposal to increase the no. of debates gets put through.
Point 4: When candidates remain in competition right until the end :
● It can be said that presidential campaigns are long, especially when there is no clear-cut winner within the
parties following special occasions, such as Super Tuesday.
● Presidential campaigns can last all the way until dates close to the national convention, which takes place in
the summer season.
● EX: Obama and Clinton were neck & neck right until the end, even after caucuses and Super Tuesday which
are designed to produce a clear winner - but Clinton dropped out as many Super-delegates stated that they
would back Obama at the national convention (where the nominee is decided) due to the fact that they were
going to support whoever won the popular vote.
● In some cases, the presidential candidate is decided around February, which can make the process seem
shorter.
● Flair - this is usually only significant if an incumbent president is not running for office. This is because a lot of
the time incumbents are not challenged in their own primaries and become the nominee straight away.
1st Point Invisible Primary:
- Period before the first primary election - effectively beginning as soon as the last election has ended- it is the
period when party candidates position themselves to run for presidencies
- Funding→ increased importance over ‘war chest’- candidates look to gain funding for their campaigns
- Flair + EX: Due to the importance or funding- this has lengthened the process of presidential campaigns as
candidates look to announce their candidacy earlier→ in recent years the importance of the invisible
primaries has increased due to the increased significance of funding
- EX: JFK announced candidacy only 66 days before the first Primary→ Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich
announced his candidacy on the 11th of May 2011- 278 days before the Iowa caucus
2nd Point - Frontloading
- Frontloading is the process by which states attempt to move the dates of their primaries earlier in order to
gain importance.
- It is known that primaries that are earlier in the election cycle tend to get the most attention
- This can be shown by the importance of winning Iowa and New Hampshire
- This process makes the presidential campaign so long as it makes the start date earlier than it should be
which extends the process further.
- EX: Frontloading was done very intensely by states including New Hampshire + Florida in 2008. They
frontloaded so much that it went against party rules and their ECV’s were penalised as they only received
half the delegates they were supposed to.
- ^^ Flair: This meant that the invisible primary had to start earlier and with greater intensity- further
lengthening the process of a presidential campaign
Point 3- Excessive Primaries and Caucuses:
- The primaries are often used as a testing ground for candidates to iron out political campaigns, establish a
network of grassroots support and gauge the demands of the electorate, in this way, Obama was able to
establish a network of offices across the USA and develop his ‘change we can believe in’ campaign before the
end of the primary season
- EX: Rick Perry, governor of Texas forgot which EXOP branch he wanted to reform as he may have taken part in
so many primaries and caucuses that it may have taken mental strain.
- Flair – This may become even more significant by the fact that there is a large Republican field – as well as
the fact that if Bernie Sander’s proposal to increase the no. of debates gets put through.
Point 4: When candidates remain in competition right until the end :
● It can be said that presidential campaigns are long, especially when there is no clear-cut winner within the
parties following special occasions, such as Super Tuesday.
● Presidential campaigns can last all the way until dates close to the national convention, which takes place in
the summer season.
● EX: Obama and Clinton were neck & neck right until the end, even after caucuses and Super Tuesday which
are designed to produce a clear winner - but Clinton dropped out as many Super-delegates stated that they
would back Obama at the national convention (where the nominee is decided) due to the fact that they were
going to support whoever won the popular vote.
● In some cases, the presidential candidate is decided around February, which can make the process seem
shorter.
● Flair - this is usually only significant if an incumbent president is not running for office. This is because a lot of
the time incumbents are not challenged in their own primaries and become the nominee straight away.
