Election Test Question

From the two films I saw in class last week, I can tell the following about the means to win a political election:

Media bias is inevitable, so the candidate running for a particular office must be ready to endure any false claims made about them by opposing candidates in a mature manner. Complaining and breaking down in frustration in front of the public will definitely lose that candidate votes as it makes it difficult to take them seriously as an adult. To ensure that a candidate gets any voters, he or she obviously needs reporters and other means of media to gain publicity before the election. With that said, it is safe to say that the media is both the candidate's friend and foe in elections.

A candidate should also be aware of the possible vote turnout in each election, which can vary depending on what type of election is happening. General elections, which occurs every four years, tend to have a higher voter turnout than primary elections, especially presidential ones. Primary elections are when candidates of each political party (in this case, the Democrats and Republicans) run against each other to win their slot in the ballot for the upcoming general election, representing their party. Candidates should appeal more towards the specific views of their corresponding party since there are less voters involved in the primaries. However, in general elections, candidates will become more vague to gain more votes, especially the moderate "swing-voters" since they make up most of the American population.

Budgeting is also key to winning an election. Candidates and their supporters must spend what they have wisely in getting reporters and other media means to gain publicity. Supporters may make phone calls to homes to gain the interest of voters, as well as making bilboards, flyers, websites, and television commercials. Potential voters may financially contribute to the candidate of their interest directly ("hard money"), but most of the time, just by watching TV, a news station will gain more ratings. Ratings = money, and if airing commercials for a running candidate gains them more ratings, they would be willing continue airing them, gaining that campaign more support and more potential voters ("soft money").

Like I mentioned before, a lower turnout is inevitable (and technically beneficial) in primary and mid-term elections, since a candidate will have to be specific in their campaign to gain support. Once his or her campaign runs into the general election, its purpose must become more widespread and vague to gain the interest of swing-voters; thus a larger turnout is more likely.

TEST POST

This be my test post. ^_^