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Key Election TermsKey Election Terms
Political party – an organization to gain political power.
Candidate – a person who seeks an office, honor, etc.
Primary election – a preliminary election in which voters of each party nominate candidates for office, party officers
General election – a regularly scheduled local, state, or national election in which voters elect officeholders.
Key Election TermsKey Election Terms
Caucus – a meeting of party members within a legislative body to select leaders and determine strategy
Closed primary – direct primary in which only persons meeting tests of party membership may vote.
Open primary – a direct primary election in which voters need not meet a test of party membership.
Electoral College? Huh??Electoral College? Huh??
U.S. presidents are NOT chosen by direct popular vote (meaning they got the most votes from the people)…just ask Al Gore (2000), Grover Cleveland (1888), Sam Tilden (1876), Andrew Jackson (1828).
Instead, the Electoral College actually decides the presidency…
In every state, a list of electors is pledged to each candidate.
The purpose of the direct popular vote in each state is to choose one of these electors.
Electoral College? Huh??Electoral College? Huh??
Usually, the candidate who wins the direct popular vote in a state gets all of the state’s electoral votes…
These electors meet in their state capitals in December to cast their state’s electoral votes for president.
These votes are sent to the U.S. Congress for official counting…
Electoral College? Huh??Electoral College? Huh??
The total number of votes in the Electoral College is 538.
The presidential candidate who wins 270 or more of these votes wins the election!!!
Democratic CandidatesDemocratic Candidates P.S. Why does the
Democratic Party use a donkey as it’s symbol?
Most associated with President Andrew Jackson, who was called a “jackass” by his opponents!!!
President Jackson then took up the symbol to describe his own “stubbornness”!!
In 1874, Thomas Nast made the symbol popular in a political cartoon and it remains to this day!!
Other Democratic CandidatesOther Democratic Candidates
Gov. Bill Richardson (NM) Sen. Chris Dodd (CN) Rep. Dennis Kuchich (OH) Sen. Joseph Biden (DE)
Republican CandidatesRepublican Candidates P.S. Why does the
Republican Party use an elephant as it’s symbol?
In 1874, Thomas Nast again drew a political cartoon depicting the Democratic “donkey” kicking at a Republican “elephant”.
The idea stuck and is still used today!
Other Republican CandidatesOther Republican Candidates
Fmr. Mayor Rudy Giuliani (NYC)
Fmr. Sen. Fred Thompson (TN)
Rep. Ron Paul (TX)
Nomination ProcessNomination Process
Each state holds a primary election or caucus Depending on state or party laws, voters often are
voting for a “delegate” who will be “bound” to vote for that candidate at the party’s national convention.
“Unpledged” delegates also participate in the party’s nominating convention, but are not bound to vote for a particular candidate.
Democratic PrimariesDemocratic Primaries
Obama – 2,206Clinton – 1,906Edwards – 26
TOTAL NEEDED – 2,118
Republican PrimariesRepublican Primaries
McCain – 1,504Huckabee - 286Romney - 242
TOTAL NEEDED – 1,191
Republican NomineeRepublican Nominee
Sen. John McCain
U.S. Senator from Arizona 72 years old U.S. Naval Academy, B.S.,
1958 National War College, 1974
Democratic NomineeDemocratic Nominee
Sen. Barack Obama
U.S. Senator from Illinois 47 years old Columbia University, B.A., 1983 Harvard University, J.D., 1991
Iraq War & “War on Terror”Iraq War & “War on Terror”
Believes that the U.S. should fulfill it’s mission in Iraq.
Believes U.S. troops should remain until the mission is completed.
Believes war in Iraq is directly related to the “War on Terror”
Iraq War & “War on Terror”Iraq War & “War on Terror”
Believes in a slow, scheduled withdrawl from Iraq.
Believes war was a “strategic blunder”.
Believes in open dialogue with Syria & Iran.
Believes focus of “War on Terror” should be on Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Illegal ImmigrationIllegal Immigration
Supports giving illegal aliens eventual citizenship if earned.
Advocates fines, waiting periods, and deportation in some cases.
Supports building a wall to increase border security.
Illegal ImmigrationIllegal Immigration
Supports giving illegal aliens eventual citizenship if earned.
Supports border patrol and building a wall.
Advocates holding employers accountable for hiring illegal aliens.
Energy CrisisEnergy Crisis
Advocates development of alternative fuels.
Says oil profits should be reinvested into nuclear energy.
Does not support the Kyoto Protocol.
Energy CrisisEnergy Crisis
Calls for more investment in hybrid and ethanol production.
Advocates conservation and development of alternative fuels.
Would look into more nuclear energy.
EducationEducation
Believes in rewarding good schools.
Supports charter schools.
Opposed to national standards for funding.
Believes states should decide school voucher issue.
EducationEducation
Believes in providing incentives to improve the educational system.
Increase teacher pay to attract more qualified teachers.
Says “No Child Left Behind” is under funded.
Health CareHealth Care
Opposes universal, mandated health care and insurance.
Supports tax credits and medical savings accounts for health care.
Advocates more community health centers.
Health CareHealth Care
Believes U.S. Government should provide universal health care for all.
Advocates more competition among insurance & pharmaceutical markets to lower costs.
Foreign PolicyForeign Policy
Advocates overthrowing “rogue governments” and using assertive tactics.
Dialogue with China, not Cuba.
Believes nuclear strength should be a tool in diplomacy.
Foreign PolicyForeign Policy
NATO should be strengthened.
U.S. policy should be to promote democracy & human rights.
Supports African development.
Supports Israel. Dialogue with Syria / Iran
Just ONE Vote!!!Just ONE Vote!!!
1776: One vote gave America the English language instead of German.
1800: One vote kept Aaron Burr, later charged with treason, from becoming president.
1850: One vote made California a state. 1859: One vote made Oregon a state. 1868: One vote saved President Andrew Johnson
from being removed from office.