Post by Rick Warder on Dec 30, 2005 16:37:37 GMT -5
2010
ELECTION PRIMER
HOUSE
of
REPRESENTATIVES
ELECTION PRIMER
HOUSE
of
REPRESENTATIVES
(Note: For costs, please see The Rules, Sec. IX.)
I. Background
The past two years have seen President Rick Warder elected, who promised "new ideas" and campaigned on a moderate platform. The Republican majority has shoved through a variety of groundbreaking reforms. Medicare has been eliminated, replaced with a public private partnership between government and private insurance companies. Agricultural reform, advocated strongly by President Warder, hit a wall of Republican internal opposition and collapsed on inertia. However, through cuts to welfare programs and a tightening of corporate tax loopholes, the budget deficit was cut by $90 billion. Also, President Warder got through his most important plan, namely increasing funding by 50% for personal health care savings accounts and passing $60 billion worth of small business and personal investment tax credits.
Globally, tensions are increasing with Iran and Syria. Iran has tested nuclear weapons and is rattling its sabers against American allies in the region. However, Iraq is more stable; aside from a few terror attacks, the new government has been able to make the country secure. President Warder's strategy of sealing the border is paying dividends in the form of an improving Iraqi economy and a stronger Iraqi army.
The U.S. economy has been growing sluggish after a seven year growth spurt; whether President Warder's fiscal discipline and tax breaks manage to avert a recession remains to be seen. The Fed has slashed interest rates in an effort to spur investment.
Now, Democrats will seek to regain control over the House of Representatives; the Republicans will have to defend it in an election where incumbency is often a liability.
II. The Election
The election for the House is divided into three major segments: organizing, advertising and campaigning.
1. Organizing
A well organized campaign will involve elements of voter registration, volunteer groups and getting the vote out on election day. This all requires funding, which will be distributed by the Party Chair. As a general strategy, voter registration yields the best result when combined with get out the vote efforts. However, getting out the vote without registering new voters will motivate the base. Using large numbers of volunteers is vital for both registration and for getting out the vote. The mix of these depends on the specific strategy of the candidate.
2. Advertising
Here is a breakdown of the various advertising options:
Air time: This puts your message on the air, the most basic way to reach the electorate. In general, this involves a television or rado advertisement on cable or broadcast networks. These ads can be run any time.
Full page ad, newspaper: The full page newspaper ad is good because it gives you exposure as well as a chance to explain your message, even adding pictures and some statistics. While TV and radio ads have been shown to leave an emotional impression, a newspaper ad reaches a typically more educated audience and will also leave behind a factual impression: it will give you the chance to be not just more appealing, but also more reasonable.
Minor or major endorsements: Every candidate needs someone to join in on the campaign, who may have credentials the candidate lacks or particular credibility. A minor or local figure will be better at penetrating a particular market, a major endorsement will be better at having a broad, regional or national appeal. The effect of an endorsement depends on the individual and the circumstances surrounding the campaign.
Regional tour: This is a direct appeal to the voters, by going out and meeting with them. A regional tour will give a candidacy presence and closeness to the people. The personal touch is often particularly good at boosting turnout; voters are more likely to support a candidate if they know him from more than just impersonal advertising.
Policy speech: The policy speech is the non plus ultra of getting a message out. This draws in major cable media outlets, and makes the front page on newspapers. In a policy speech, a candidate should lay out his stance on a defining issue. A policy speech will vault that issue into the center of media attention for a few days, opening up a window for either candidate to make huge advances on public opinion. A policy speech, since it draws in so much media attention, is usually more than just a boring rally; it will take place at an historical location, or some other major venue. A policy speech has the potential to reframe a debate; "making the case" for a new way of doing things is easier when everybody is paying attention!
3. Campaigning
The actual campaign lasts one week in real time. There will be one major event of 500 words and five minor events of 250 words each. In each of these, the candidate should lay out his stance on the issues and try to engage in debate with the opponent, countering his stances and advancing his own agenda. If the candidate advances his own agenda and refuses to argue with the opponent, that counts as a 'positive' campaign; if the candidate reacts to the opponent, that is a 'negative' campaign. An event should generally be held at a relevant location and address a particular voter demographic.
Note: Unlike advertising and organizing, campaigning is free of charge.
III. The Results
The result of the election will be reflected in a change in the relationship of Democrats to Republicans in the House. NO PLAYER REPRESENTATIVE IS IN DANGER OF LOSING HIS SEAT. However, the party that takes a majority away from the election will be in a stronger position for the next two years. And the more representatives from a given party, the easier it will be for that party to pass legislation, even if some representatives don't hold the party line, since a bigger presence for a party in the House also means bigger coalitions for that party's player characters.