Example Bank Builder – Extra-constitutional requirements of Presidential Candidates

• Political experience: vice-presidents, state governors, senators

Examples: Of the 16 politicians who were nominated as presidential candidates in the last 11 elections to 2008, nine were senators, six had been vice-presidents and five were governors.

2016 Election Example:

• Major party endorsement: If someone is serious about becoming president, it is vital to be chosen as a candidate for one of the two major parties.

Examples: Eisenhower had to become a Republican in 1952. The political endeavours of Geroge Wallace (1968), John Anderson (1980), Ross Perot (1992 and 1996) and Pat Buchanan (2000) show that their party or independent candidacies do not lead to the White House.

2016 Election Example:

• Personal characteristics: Traditionally, it is more helpful if the candidate is a WASP (white, anglo-saxon, protestant). However, the Democratic presidential nomination race had a white woman (Clinton) and a black man (Obama). All vice-presidents have been white males. It is an advantage to be married with no scandals or affairs.

Examples: Senator Edward Kennedy’s chances were ended by the Chappaquiddick affair. Senator Gary Hart pulled out of the 1988 nomination race after photos of him and a scantily clad model on a yacht called Monkey Business were published by the press.

2016 Election Example:

• Ability to raise large sums of money: Campaigns are so expensive that very few candidates can afford to finance their own campaigns.Only billionaire candidates such as Perot (1992) and Steve Forbes (1996 and 2000) could finance their own campaigns.

Examples: In 2008 Hilary Clinton raised just short of $90 million, Barack Obama just over $70 million and John McCain, £28 million. In 2012 Brack Obama raised $1072.6 million and Mitt Romney raised $992.5 million (according to the NY times).

2016 Election Example:

• Effective organisation: A candidate is running to become the Republican or Democratic presidential candidate, so candidtate cannot use the party’s organisational structure, either nationally or in each state.

Examples: Candidates with poor organisation skills ultimately lost out in the nomination process. Michael Dukakis (1988) and Bob Dole (1996), who had significant weaknesses in their campaign organisation lost the general election. Hilary Clinton lost out to Barack Obama in the Democratic race because of his superior organisation.

2016 Election Example:

• Oratorical skills and being telegenic: Ideally candidates should be telegenic

Examples: Reagan had been a Hollywood actor before becoming president. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were also praised for their good oratorical skills and their telegenic looks.

2016 Election Example:

• Sound and relevant policies:There is a danger that presidential elections are portrayed as style and no substance. Voters will detect a candidate whose candidate turns out to be a ‘policy free’ zone. A candidate must have policies that are both practical and relevant.

Examples: For Bill Clinton, it was ‘the economy, stupid!’, for John McCain it was campaign finance reform, for Howard Dean it was the war in Iraq. Some say that one of Romney’s downfalls was that the voters did not know what his policies were.

2016 Election Example: