he 2004 Democratic National Convention took place from July 26 to July 29, 2004 at the FleetCenter Boston Massachusetts. This is where John Kerry and his Vice Presidential Candidate, John Edwards, were nominated as the official candidates of the Democratic Party for President and Vice President of the United States. This Convention was the official end of the primaries, they had already taken place. The ceremony included keynote speech by Barack Obama, future president of the United States. The Convention was chaired by Bill Richardson , Governor of New Mexico and Lottie Shackelford, former presidential advisor to Bill Clinton, served as Vice Chairwoman.
The party platform is very important because it outlines the main points and views of the candidate. The democratic party platform for this election was titled "Strong at Home, Respected in the World". The first part was called "A Strong, Respected America". It outlined ways to prevent and defeat terrorism. It also talked about keeping weapons of mass destruction from terrorists and promoting world peace and security. They want to strengthen the military and better homeland security. The second part of the platform was entitled "A Strong, Growing Economy". This section discussed the making of "good jobs" for the American middle class. The third part of the platform was called "Strong, Healthy Families." This section discussed ways to improve health care and education. It also discussed the protection of the environment. The final part of the platform was called "A Strong American Community." This talked about the diversity of America and Civil Rights.
These are all very democratic views and including all of these got many people on their side.
Kerry picked Edwards as his running mate because of experience. Kerry said that Edwards "has shown guts and determination and political skill in his own race for the presidency of the United States, a man whose life has prepared him for leadership and whose character brings him to exercise it."
Monday, January 18, 2010
GENERAL ELECTION
The four presidential debates held at various colleges and mediated by various people had contradictory results to the overall election.
Kerry was reported the overall winner of the first debate held at the University of Miami on September 30th, and the debate seemed to strengthen his weakened campaign. That may have been because his opponent George W. Bush made quite a few incorrect comments and negative facial expressions while Kerry was speaking. Although in the second debate Bush was much more positive and even joked about his negative demeanor.
According to a CNN pole John Kerry was the majority winner of all the presidential debates, according to viewers, but that did not lead him to win the election.
Kerry's overall campaign focus was to be moderately supportive of controversial issues like gay marriage and abortion, which led him to be criticized for not having a steadfast position like his opponent. He hit Bush hard with criticism on his Iraq policy and unwarranted invasion, but even with that Bush used the "War on Terror" to his advantage and used the still fresh fear after 9/11 to win over voters. Kerry's policy in regards to the debates and a plan for Iraq certainly made him a respected candidate, but it wasn't enough attack soon enough.
In regards to swing states, Kerry visited Florida and Ohio with bus tours, to gain support in very important territory... New Mexico and Ohio had ballot counting trouble, which causes suspicion and concern if Bush really won the popular vote in Ohio, the most important swing state in the 2004 election.
OVERALL RESULTS:
BUSH:
286 electoral votes
50.7% of the popular vote
KERRY:
251 electoral votes
48.3% of the popular vote
Kerry was reported the overall winner of the first debate held at the University of Miami on September 30th, and the debate seemed to strengthen his weakened campaign. That may have been because his opponent George W. Bush made quite a few incorrect comments and negative facial expressions while Kerry was speaking. Although in the second debate Bush was much more positive and even joked about his negative demeanor.
According to a CNN pole John Kerry was the majority winner of all the presidential debates, according to viewers, but that did not lead him to win the election.
Kerry's overall campaign focus was to be moderately supportive of controversial issues like gay marriage and abortion, which led him to be criticized for not having a steadfast position like his opponent. He hit Bush hard with criticism on his Iraq policy and unwarranted invasion, but even with that Bush used the "War on Terror" to his advantage and used the still fresh fear after 9/11 to win over voters. Kerry's policy in regards to the debates and a plan for Iraq certainly made him a respected candidate, but it wasn't enough attack soon enough.
In regards to swing states, Kerry visited Florida and Ohio with bus tours, to gain support in very important territory... New Mexico and Ohio had ballot counting trouble, which causes suspicion and concern if Bush really won the popular vote in Ohio, the most important swing state in the 2004 election.
OVERALL RESULTS:
BUSH:
286 electoral votes
50.7% of the popular vote
KERRY:
251 electoral votes
48.3% of the popular vote
Party Nomination
A Caucus is a meeting of members of a political party or subgroup to coordinate members' actions, choose group policy, or nominate candidates for various offices. A primary is where the democratic and republican candidates are chosen by states. A Caucus is privately run by parties while primaries are run by the state or national governments. Both Caucuses and primaries are processes that narrow down the ballot on election day so that it makes a majority more likely instead of just a plurality to win.
For most of 2003, Howard Dean had been seen as the inevitable winner of the democratic candidate election. He had been winning in polls and he had very strong fundraising. John Kerry had strong results in the Iowa caucus, however, and this was unexpected. He got 38% of the state's delegates and won in all states except four and the District of Columbia. Kerry and his running mate Edwards won the Democratic National Convention, but lost the presidential election to George Bush.
Kerry's victory in the Iowa caucuses is widely believed to be the way he revived his failing campaign. He went on to win New Hampshire and the February 3, 2004 primary states like Arizona, South Carolina and New Mexico. Kerry then went on to win landslide victories in Nevada and Wisconsin. Kerry thus won the Democratic nomination. Iowa is definitely the way he won, he used a strategy of winning big early. Most other states followed.
For most of 2003, Howard Dean had been seen as the inevitable winner of the democratic candidate election. He had been winning in polls and he had very strong fundraising. John Kerry had strong results in the Iowa caucus, however, and this was unexpected. He got 38% of the state's delegates and won in all states except four and the District of Columbia. Kerry and his running mate Edwards won the Democratic National Convention, but lost the presidential election to George Bush.
Kerry's victory in the Iowa caucuses is widely believed to be the way he revived his failing campaign. He went on to win New Hampshire and the February 3, 2004 primary states like Arizona, South Carolina and New Mexico. Kerry then went on to win landslide victories in Nevada and Wisconsin. Kerry thus won the Democratic nomination. Iowa is definitely the way he won, he used a strategy of winning big early. Most other states followed.
$ Money $
Funding (in General):
PAC (Political Action Committee)- Political arm of an interest group entitled to raise funds from members, stockholders, and employees.
Bundling- Tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals (each limited to $2,000) to a candidate or political party.
527 Group- Organized under section 527 of IRS code that may accept/spend unlimited amounts of money on election activity, as long as any ads are run in:
--last 30 days of primary elections
--last 60 days of general elections
Soft Money- Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for "party-building purposes." Banned (made illegal) after 2002 election by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.
Independent Expenditure- Political activity intended to assist or oppose a candidate for office made without their cooperation, approval, or direct knowledge.
Issue Advocasy- Unlimited/undisclosed spending by individual or group on communications that do not use words like "vote for" or "vote against."
Money in Kerry's Run for Office:
-He and George Bush raised nearly half a billion dollars in private contributions during the primary season.
-Received 74.6 million in government funding for the General Election, and in turn, could not raise or spend private funds after accepting nomination.
Spent: $309,708,090 (less than winning Bush)
527 Groups: got rather controversial!
-MoveOn.org
-The Media Fund
-America Coming Together
-America Votes
PACs (especiall MoveOn.org) played large role in attack ads and gave democrats advantage over republicans in media
Top organizations:
University of California
$622,925
Harvard University
$355,359
Time Warner
$305,824
Goldman Sachs
$303,250
Citigroup Inc
$288,631
Independent Expenditures: none reported
PAC (Political Action Committee)- Political arm of an interest group entitled to raise funds from members, stockholders, and employees.
Bundling- Tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals (each limited to $2,000) to a candidate or political party.
527 Group- Organized under section 527 of IRS code that may accept/spend unlimited amounts of money on election activity, as long as any ads are run in:
--last 30 days of primary elections
--last 60 days of general elections
Soft Money- Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for "party-building purposes." Banned (made illegal) after 2002 election by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.
Independent Expenditure- Political activity intended to assist or oppose a candidate for office made without their cooperation, approval, or direct knowledge.
Issue Advocasy- Unlimited/undisclosed spending by individual or group on communications that do not use words like "vote for" or "vote against."
Money in Kerry's Run for Office:
-He and George Bush raised nearly half a billion dollars in private contributions during the primary season.
-Received 74.6 million in government funding for the General Election, and in turn, could not raise or spend private funds after accepting nomination.
Spent: $309,708,090 (less than winning Bush)
527 Groups: got rather controversial!
-MoveOn.org
-The Media Fund
-America Coming Together
-America Votes
PACs (especiall MoveOn.org) played large role in attack ads and gave democrats advantage over republicans in media
Top organizations:
University of California
$622,925
Harvard University
$355,359
Time Warner
$305,824
Goldman Sachs
$303,250
Citigroup Inc
$288,631
Independent Expenditures: none reported
Here are some links to a few of John Kerry's campaign ads... CHECK EM OUT!
http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/2004/real-people-rhonda-nix
http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/2004/awol
http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/2004/optimists
http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/2004/real-people-rhonda-nix
http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/2004/awol
http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/2004/optimists
Intro
Hey all,
This blog is for our AP Government and Politics Class with Mr. Milner. This is what we have learned about John Kerry's process and tactics throughout his presidential campaign.
Enjoy and please comment!
Sarah, Khara, and Cooper!
This blog is for our AP Government and Politics Class with Mr. Milner. This is what we have learned about John Kerry's process and tactics throughout his presidential campaign.
Enjoy and please comment!
Sarah, Khara, and Cooper!
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