Module 3

Primaries are a great thing. Just yesterday I got to go and vote in a primary for who would be village president. The guy I voted for won so I can say that I am very pleased with the outcome. That doesn't always happen, but I think primaries are great because they show what's likely to come in the future in certain elections like this that are local and even national. According to the book, "an important outcome of having the primary system is that party leaders have been sensitized to the interests and feelings of the most active rank and file members". Candidates usually want to place well in primaries so that they can get more funding from their party, depending on how important that persons seat is to win will depend on how much money they throw the candidates way. While I think "political machines" and bosses have been brought down by primaries, I also think that with the downfall of those people, the media has come in and become just as influential in what we see everyday. I do not think it was intended for the media to come in and become as influential as it has, but as you can see in events like conventions, they have transformed it into some sort of Hollywood award ceremony like the golden globes or oscars.
Campaign finance reform is a little different than the nominating process. I think the new reforms haven't really achieved some of their goals that they thought it would get to. It hasn't made the cost of campaigns limited. Campaigns have become more expensive times 10 in the last thirty years. People that are running for office often rely on campaign funds from many people and groups. Presidential candidates though can often raise more money through privately raising money and not incurring that many limitations. Look at how Bush got the nomination in 2000 over McCain. McCain ran out of money pretty much, while Bush had managed to rais over 100 million dollars. PAC's will donate money but it depends usually on the candidate and what they can do for them by winning the seat or maintaining the seat. PAC's are necessary for candidates because they give much needed donations in order to campaign, but I think it's still like borrowing money from a relative or friend because it's held over your head, if you don't really believe in their cause. I think primaries and don't really affect how much money is regulated towards each candidate in an election. You have your strongholds in government locally and in the state that you don't really have to worry about, so your national party will give you money depending on how close they think the race will be for you. Obviously if they think it will be a closer race they will pump more money into your campaign in order to try to be a winner in the election. I think that if you have the money to campaign and backing from state party leaders that you are in good shape in terms of having a chance to win an election. Factions in these elections have been a good thing because they are usually donating large sums of money to the candidate that will help their cause, and it helps create bi-partisanship because it seperates people and draws a line in the sand of what a person will and won't vote for.