Evaluating Candidates & Electoral Process Road to 2012.

Evaluating Candidates &

Electoral Process

Road to 2012

Political Parties

Republican Democrat Independent Test

http://www.selectsmart.com/FREE/select.php?client=Heath_Political

What’s the best way to determine who you support?

Advertisements Speeches Interviews Debates Political Rallies Campaign

Contributions Fundraisers Background

http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/10-best-political-advertisements-of-all-time-presidents-edition/

http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2011/09/video-highlights-from-the-reagan-library-gop-debate/

Primary Election

A Primary Election is a nominating election. Winning the party’s nomination is the first step in the election process. It narrows the field in a political party to one individual for a specific office.

Party members select candidates for the general election Closed primary: only party members are

allowed to vote Open primary: all voters can take part

General Election

A General Election is the election in which all voters make the final choice from among the party nominees and the independent candidates for a specific office.

1st Tuesday in November

Electoral College

The point system, based on population, for who wins the Presidency general election

Campaigning

organized effort to influence voters’ decision making

Lobbyists attempting to influence decisions made by

govt. officials (usually legislative) serve their own interest

National Right to Life American Medical Association U.S. Chamber of Commerce LGBT immigration American Association of Retirement Persons NRA environmental

Democrat Incumbent

President Obama born in Hawaii 1961, childhood in Indonesia with

single mother, moved back to Hawaii in 1971 (lived with grandparents), degree in Political Science, moved to Chicago after graduating college, married Michelle, has 2 children, baptized at Trinity United Church of Christ, taught Constitutional Law, won Illinois Senator 1996 - 2002, won U.S. Senator 2004, won Presidency 2008

believes federal government should regulate economy, tax wealthy to get out of debt, invest in clean energy, diplomatic talks with enemies, against same sex marriage, pro-choice, amnesty for illegals, universal health care, race to the top

Republican Candidates Mitt Romney

born in Michigan 1947, Mormon, business degree at Harvard, CEO, married Anne, has 5 kids, Governor Massachussets 2003-2007

believes in pro-life, dollar diplomacy as well as some force, free enterprise, against same sex marriage, modified universal health care, part of the NRA, No Child Left Behind supporter, focus on the middle class tax payer/lower taxes, alien employment cards

Republican Candidates Newt Gingrich

born in Pennsylvania 1943, House of Rep Georgia 1979-1999, degree in political science/history, married 3 times, current wife Callista, 2 children, Speaker of the House 1995-1999

believes in pro-choice but also public should not pay for abortions, review illegals and the local community should judge who stays and who goes & e-verify, discontinue affirmative action, grants given to parents for them to decide which school, cut middle class taxes, repeal federal care with free market, use force when necessary

Republican Candidates Ron Paul

born in Pennsylvania 1935, Physician, Flight Surgeon U.S. Air Force, married to Carol and have 5 children, Libertarian principles, House of Rep Texas 1976-today (on and off)

believes in the original Constitution, anti-abortion, leave all wars, don’t make incentives (welfare programs) for illegals, no amnesty, anti-federalist, tax less on federal level, more focused on local level, community should decide about same-sex marriage, against Federal Education, no social health care

Independents

Why don’t they have a chance?

What other Executive positions do you vote for?

Governor Sheriff Mayor

What Legislative positions do you vote for?

U.S. Congress House of Representatives Senators

State Congress House of Representatives Senators

City Council