The tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election.
White Primaries
Primary Elections in the southern states in which any non-white voter was prohibited from participating.
Valence Issue
An issue about which the public is united and rival candidates or parties adopt similar positions in hopes that each will be thought to best represent those widely shared beliefs.
Super Tuesday
During the presidential primary season there may be several groups of primaries in various regions falling on one or more Tuesdays. These groupingss are important because the weight of such a large, simultaneous vote tends to make or break nominees.
Blanket Primary
A primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties.
Winner-Take-All Primaries
The candidate getting the most voted from a state's caucus or primary gets all of that state's delegates at the national convention. Republicans usually use this strategy.
Campaign Spots
Commercials for campaigns and candidates.
Runoff Primary
A second primary election held when no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the first primary.
Federal Election Campaign Act (1974)
Law that governs financing of federal elections; requires candidates and committees to disclose funding sources and spending; regulates the contributions recieved and spending during election campaigns and governs public funding of presidential elections.
Caucus (especially Iowa)
In some states a type of primary election to select presidential candidates. Iowa holds the first caucus of the election season and dictates how well a candidate will do.
