Deck 14: Presidential Nominations in the Media Age

Question 1

Write an essay proposing an alternative to the current primary system in which Iowa and New Hampshire have outsized effects on the remainder of the primary process. In your essay, describe the problems your approach would solve and what distinguishes it from existing processes.

Answer 1

The current primary system in which Iowa and New Hampshire have outsized effects on the remainder of the primary process has been a topic of debate for many years. Critics argue that these two states, with their predominantly white and rural populations, do not accurately represent the diversity of the United States as a whole. This can lead to candidates focusing their campaigns and policies on issues that are specific to these states, rather than addressing the concerns of the entire nation.

One alternative to this system is a rotating regional primary schedule. Under this approach, the country would be divided into four or five regions, and each region would take turns holding the first primary or caucus. This would ensure that a more diverse range of states and demographics have an early say in the primary process, and would prevent any one state from having an outsized influence.

One of the main problems that this approach would solve is the lack of diversity in the early primary states. By rotating the regions that hold the first primaries, candidates would be forced to address a wider range of issues and concerns, and would be more likely to engage with a broader spectrum of voters. This would also prevent candidates from focusing solely on issues that are specific to Iowa and New Hampshire, and would encourage them to develop policies that are more reflective of the entire country.

Another benefit of a rotating regional primary schedule is that it would prevent the "bandwagon effect" that often occurs when a candidate performs well in the early states. By spreading out the early primaries across different regions, candidates would have to build broader support and momentum, rather than relying on a strong showing in just one or two states to carry them through the rest of the primary process.

This approach also distinguishes itself from the existing process by ensuring that a wider range of voices and perspectives are heard early in the primary process. By giving different regions the opportunity to hold the first primaries, candidates would be forced to engage with a more diverse set of voters and address a broader range of issues. This would ultimately lead to a more representative and inclusive primary process.

In conclusion, a rotating regional primary schedule offers a promising alternative to the current system in which Iowa and New Hampshire have outsized effects on the remainder of the primary process. By addressing the lack of diversity in the early primary states and preventing the bandwagon effect, this approach would lead to a more representative and inclusive primary process that better reflects the diversity of the United States as a whole.

Question 2

Congratulations, you are a key campaign strategist for a candidate entering contention for the next presidential election! Your role is to develop a pre-primary and early-primary strategy for your candidate. Write an essay in which you lay out your pre-primary and early-primary approach for your candidate.

Answer 2

Thank you for entrusting me with this important role as a key campaign strategist for our candidate entering contention for the next presidential election. Developing a pre-primary and early-primary strategy is crucial for setting the tone and momentum for our candidate's campaign.

In the pre-primary phase, our focus will be on building a strong foundation for our candidate's campaign. This will involve establishing a clear and compelling message that resonates with the electorate, as well as building a robust campaign infrastructure. We will also prioritize fundraising efforts to ensure that our candidate has the financial resources necessary to compete effectively in the early-primary states.

One key aspect of our pre-primary strategy will be to engage with key stakeholders and influencers within the party. This will involve reaching out to party leaders, elected officials, and grassroots activists to build a broad coalition of support for our candidate. We will also work to secure endorsements from influential individuals and organizations, which will help to lend credibility and momentum to our candidate's campaign.

As we transition into the early-primary phase, our focus will shift towards mobilizing support and turning out voters in key states. We will prioritize organizing efforts on the ground, including establishing a strong volunteer network and deploying field organizers to key early-primary states. Additionally, we will develop a targeted media strategy to ensure that our candidate's message reaches voters in these crucial early-primary states.

Another important aspect of our early-primary strategy will be to participate in candidate debates and forums, where our candidate can showcase their vision and leadership to a national audience. These events will provide valuable opportunities to differentiate our candidate from the competition and build momentum heading into the early-primary contests.

Overall, our pre-primary and early-primary approach will be focused on building a strong foundation, mobilizing support, and effectively communicating our candidate's message to voters. By executing this strategy effectively, we will position our candidate for success in the early-primary states and beyond. Thank you for the opportunity to lead this critical effort, and I am confident that with a strong strategy and a dedicated team, we can propel our candidate to victory in the next presidential election.

Question 3

Which of the following is an advantage of Iowa and New Hampshire's early role in determining the outcome of presidential primaries?

A) Iowa and New Hampshire are demographically representative of the nation as a whole
B) Horse race coverage advances the winners proportionally
C) Straightforward criteria for delegate selection in these states relative to others.
D) Refreshing to have nomination contests in small states with more opportunity to engage in grassroots campaigns.
E) None of the above

Answer 3

Refreshing to have nomination contests in small states with more opportunity to engage in grassroots campaigns.

Question 4

Candidates are most likely to succeed in the early phase of pre-primaries if they

A) Attract news attention
B) Gain social media buzz
C) Perform well in debates
D) Have a coherent message that captures activist voters
E) All of the above

Question 5

A local, public gathering where party members publicly deliberate about candidates, decide which presidential candidate they will support, and choose delegates is known as a:

A) Primary
B) Pre-primary
C) Caucus
D) Delegation
E) Nominating convention