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Rule and Credential Disputes Lead to party fights 1952 Republican Convention ◦Senator Robert Taft given majority of Southern delegates by RNC ◦Eisenhower’s supporters forced floor fight & overturned that decision ◦Ike gets nomination 1972 Democratic Convention ◦McGovern Commission rules were supposed to create fairer representation of minorities ◦2 key votes gave McGovern nomination McGovern received all of CA’s delegates Denying Chicago Mayor Daley representation
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Party ConventionsRepublican National Convention, Chicago, 1880.
The Party Convention
National conventions date to 1830s◦ First “open” convention – Jackson & Democrats
Historically◦ Provide excitement & nomination of party’s candidates for pres.
& VP◦ 1924 Democratic Convention took 103 ballots to choose
candidates◦ Since 1952: both parties have selected candidates on first
ballotConvention proceedings to catch attention of
electorate include:◦ Rules and credential debates◦ Keynote speeches◦ Platform debates◦ Nomination of presidential candidate◦ Selection of running mate◦ Acceptance speeches
Rule and Credential Disputes
Lead to party fights
1952 Republican Convention◦Senator Robert Taft given majority of Southern delegates
by RNC◦Eisenhower’s supporters forced floor fight & overturned
that decision◦Ike gets nomination
1972 Democratic Convention◦McGovern Commission rules were supposed to create fairer
representation of minorities◦2 key votes gave McGovern nomination
McGovern received all of CA’s delegates Denying Chicago Mayor Daley representation
1976 Republican Convention◦Rules debate forced by Reagan supporters attempted to
force apparent nominee, Gerald Ford to announce choice for VP before balloting began
◦Convention voted against rule change◦Ford got nomination
1980 Democratic Convention◦Ted Kennedy tried to change rules that required delegates
pledged to a candidate to vote for that candidate on the 1st ballot Hoped some of Carter’s supporters would defect
◦Convention defeated the change◦Carter received the nomination
Platform Fights
The platform is the statement of party values and goals for the election◦Provide public debates & philosophical
arguments could affect the party 1948: fight over civil rights led Southern Democrats
to walk out – create Dixiecrats 1964: Goldwater conservatives
were in control of platform & refused to make concessions to moderates in areas of civil rights
1968: arguments over Vietnam split the Democrats, hurt Humphrey’s chances against Nixon
Can be used to ameliorate political relations1976: Ford agreed to concessions to Reagan’s views
on détente1980: Carter allowed Kennedy's supporters to add a
job program to the platformTo avoid televised platform controversy in 1996 &
2000, both parties reached consensus on touchy issues prior to the start of the convention
But party platforms usually fade into woodwork after the convention
Speeches
Politicians giving nominating speeches can vault them into their own candidacy◦2004 – Barack Obama’s keynote 2008
candidacy◦1956 – JFK’s nomination speech 1960
Not all speeches bring positive effects◦1988 – Clinton’s long nomination of Dukakis
has to promise to keep it under control when he runs in 1992
◦1992 – Patrick Buchanan and Pat Robertson speeches some Americans felt Republicans giving too much influence to conservatives & religious right
Balloting
Follows keynote and nomination speechesIn recent years has been a formality
◦But tactics used by frontrunner’s opponents can put nomination in doubt (Think about Gingrich’s promise to carry his
campaign to the convention to launch a direct challenge to Mitt Romney)
Selecting the VP
Since 1940 precedent: presidential nominees choose their running mates
Philosophy in choosing your running mate:◦ Balancing the ticket
JFK & LBJ; Carter & Mondale; ◦ Paying off a political debt◦ Elevating a person, minority group
Mondale & Ferraro◦ Break the rules – choose someone unexpected
Unexpected region:◦ Clinton & Gore
Unexpected religion◦ Gore & Lieberman
Opposite ideologically◦ Obama & Biden
Unknown individual◦ McCain & Palin
Now you need to paint a picture of party unity
Micromanaging the Convention
1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, both parties ran the most tightly-controlled political conventions since the start of TV coverage◦Orchestrated themes◦Highly scheduled
http://www.gopconvention2012.com/ http://charlottein2012.com/
◦Chose keynote speakers & “prime-time” dignitaries◦Criticism from media, but both parties believed
they had put best foot forward
http://www.gop.com/2008Platform/
http://www.democrats.org/about/party_platform
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/issues/party-platforms/index.html