To what extent are national nominating conventions mere formalities? (30 marks)
- Created by: yazmintaylorx
- Created on: 05-05-18 16:49
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- NNCs as mere formalities
- important in influencing voters
- large media focus on the candidates in the 3-4 day 'jamboree' is good publicity
- helps candidates gain 'bounce' & 'momentum'
- Clinton 6% & Trump 4%
- often held in swing states to try & influence swing voters
- RNC Ohio & DNC Pennsylvania
- core vote can be energised
- party activists can be enthused into a 'ground war'
- can influence the results of the election
- democratic as voters may vote on basis of policies laid out in NNC
- may be undemocratic voters vote on candidate's image
- important in healing party divisions
- 2008 Clinton 'Obama is my candidate, and he must be our president'
- 2012 Rick Santorum endorsed Mitt Romney
- healing divisions is especially important after divisive primaries
- promotes image of party unity
- electorate may place more trust in the party
- no longer decide presidential candidates
- since the McGovern-Fraser reforms candidates chosen by primaries & caucuses
- reduces influences of 'party bosses' in 'smoke-filled rooms'
- candidate can become a 'presumptive nominee' before the convention
- Obama 2008 2 months early, Trump 2016 early May
- mean the convention is merely a 'coronation' of the candidate
- it is democratic as electorate is choosing
- electorate may have chosen someone who is not likely to be an effective president e.g. Carter 1976
- may decide when there is no clear winner
- 'super-delegates' may become important
- since the McGovern-Fraser reforms candidates chosen by primaries & caucuses
- no longer decide VP candidates
- presidential candidates now choose & announce their VPs before the convention
- 1976 Reagan announced before the convention but didn't win
- Obama 2008 announced Biden via text 2 days before the convention
- Romney announced Ryan 16 days early
- undemocratic as electorate don't get to choose
- must choose someone the electorate will support
- conventions informally important fro showing off 'balanced-ticket'
- presidential candidates now choose & announce their VPs before the convention
- no longer decide the party platform
- debates during the 1968 DNC showed the Dems. to be divided & unelectable
- following this all speeches have been stage-managed & scripted
- little real debate now - all previously decided
- candidates are less likely to follow their party platform
- in 1996 Bob Dole didn't even read the party platform after the party rejected his 'declaration of tolerance' towards abortion
- less democratic & goes back to 'party bosses' in 'smoke-filled rooms'
- party leaders can decide more popular policies aimed at winning public support & the election
- informally important for showing the party is united behind a platform
- only time when the national party meets
- debates during the 1968 DNC showed the Dems. to be divided & unelectable
- important in influencing voters
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