The Process of Choosing Presidential Nominees: A Political Report

This report analyzes the process of selecting presidential nominees in the United States, highlighting the evolution of the system from the early influence of local and state political parties to the impact of the common voter, and the role of caucuses. It discusses the rise of the "invisible primary" or "money primary," where candidates and journalists begin preparing years in advance, and the strategic choices nominees make to gain a position. The report details the shifts in nomination policies between 2012 and 2016, and the changing approaches of both Republican and Democratic parties to the voting system. The author uses a sarcastic tone to underscore the competitive nature of the process and the significant financial investment required for candidates to promote themselves and secure votes, emphasizing the importance of delegate selection and media influence in the race to the presidency.

Running head: CHOOSING THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES
Choosing the Presidential Nominees
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Author Note:

1Choosing the Presidential Nominees
The chapter starts with a sarcastic tone portraying the hidden truth behind the
volunteers, who, come and join for the Presidential nominee for the major party of U.S. the
chapter talks about the journey of the nominees, who apply for the presidential posts
(Norrander, 1996). The whole approach of the chapter is a sarcastic one, saying that the
candidates, who are serious about the position, starts thinking and preparing for it many years
before they actually apply for the positions. The author is of the opinion, that the journalists,
who cover the whole situations of election, from start till the end, also starts preparing
themselves for the respective post, and the candidate, who have applied actually waste or
rather invest a lot if money in the promotion of themselves, and this, the author has termed
with the “Invisible Primary” or the “Money Primary” (Norrander, 1996).
Further, how the whole process if choosing the candidates is conducted, is explained
in the work. In the Presidential Primaries part, the author has explained how, previously, the
local and state political parties had a huge role in impressing the social delegates or the
caucuses, in order to get their candidates, the mentioned post (Norrander, 2013). However,
with the introduction of the law that ensured that the common men can have a say in the
choice from the presidential nominees, the scenario changed a bit. Further, in 1972, the
Democratic convention approved that the Democrats can actively take a part in the in the
selection process of the presidential candidates, and this is how the journey of the democrats
started in the running of the election process for the presidential post (Norrander, 1996).
However, on one hand they were incorporating the minorities, women and the blacks into the
system, on the other, they were again giving rise to the practice of impressing the caucuses.
With increasing time, the choosing of the delegates to attend the national conference
became another topic of issue. The parties began to get choosy about whom to pick for the
meetings. On that note, the author claimed, that the candidates who got the nominee for the
presidential post, already knew whom to pick and choose because this is a very important part

2Choosing the Presidential Nominees
of their journey and lesson, however since with their win in the initial sector, it is much easier
to promote themselves with the help of the media (Norrander, 2013). Next, the author
approaches to the strategic choices of the nominees that they often involve into gaining a
position in the country and now the nominees do not only use the social delegates to get the
ball into their court, but rather, they are using the money in order to campaign more and to
inspire up on more people, to get the votes and in this particular race is there is a surging
competition among the two parties and there is race between them regarding impressing upon
the delegates, which is termed as, “ front loaded” (Norrander, 1996).
Over 2012 to 2016, the rules regarding the nominee policies have changed and rephrased
many a times and the two parties, the Republics and the Democrats have changed their
approaches to the voting system or pattern accordingly (Norrander, 2015).

3Choosing the Presidential Nominees
References:
Norrander, B. (1996). Presidential nomination politics in the post-reform era. Political Research
Quarterly, 49(4), 875-915.
Norrander, B. (2013). 3 Fighting Off Challengers. The American Elections of 2012, 48
Norrander, B. (2015). The imperfect primary: Oddities, biases, and strengths of US
presidential nomination politics. Routledge.