This term paper is about the famous ’Super Tuesday’ in America. First I am going to explain why this topic is interesting for me and then I’ll take a look at the history and what relevance ‘Super Tuesday’ has for the primaries and the candidates. I am going to leave out to explain what primaries and caucasuses are because it would go beyond the scope of this term paper.
I took on this topic because in 2000/2001 I spent one year at an American high school in Wisconsin and lived with a host family. That was the first time I took notice of this day and the primaries in particular. Ever since that, it fascinated me and now I have a chance to find out more about this topic. I arrived in Stevens Point, Wisconsin in August so I did not exactly experience ‘Super Tuesday’, but it was talked about an awful lot in school in my American History class. I was also dragged to a speech of Al Gore in Madison. It was absolutely fascinating but I must admit, I thought the people around me were totally nuts. All this screaming and yelling at this gathering and putting stickers on the car so everybody could see whom they supported. I think Germans cannot understand this hype since we do not get to choose the party’s candidate for an election and I think it is crazy that the primaries take place almost a year ahead of the election in November. Sometimes I do not understand how Americans cannot get sick of this long lasting political back and forth but it was an experience I will cherish forever. And after reading a comment by state Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, about the primaries and caucuses, who said that “if the Nov. 4 presidential election is the political equivalent of the Super Bowl, then Thursday's Iowa caucuses and the Jan. 8 New Hampshire primary are the opening games. [...]
Table of Contents
1. History of ‘Super Tuesday’
Objectives and Topics
The term paper examines the historical development and political significance of 'Super Tuesday' within the American presidential election process, exploring why states increasingly synchronize their primary dates and the resulting implications for candidates and the electorate.
- Evolution of the 'Super Tuesday' concept in American politics.
- Strategic motivations for states to frontload their primary elections.
- The impact of concentrated primaries on campaign dynamics and "tarmac campaigning."
- Advantages and disadvantages of compressed nomination calendars.
- The role of superdelegates and party nominations.
Excerpt from the Paper
History of ‘Super Tuesday’
It is not the clear when ‘Super Tuesday’ was established in the political vocabulary. Some say “the phrase ‘Super Tuesday’ has been used to refer to presidential primary elections since at least 1984 […] when a large number of states held presidential primaries. “‘Super Tuesday’ was designed by southern Democrats after Mondale's nomination in 1984. They wanted to use their weight to nominate a more moderate candidate who would better reflect their interests”4. In fact, the “1984 primary season had three ‘Super Tuesdays’, ending with ‘Super Tuesday III’, when Walter Mondale finally secured the Democratic nomination”5.
Others say that “in 1988, the phrase ‘Super Tuesday’ entered the political vocabulary. On March 8, the first regional group of primaries were held […] in […] the South in selecting the Democratic nominee for President.”6
On March 8, 1988 the primaries were held in 9 Southern states such as Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama, and Georgia. “Political party planners in the Southern states hoped that by simultaneously holding their primaries, they could increase the strength of conservative candidates, over candidates they considered to be more liberal”7 and in an effort to boost the importance of the South. Today, the Southern states of Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi continue to hold their primaries on the same day, typically the Tuesday after Super Tuesday. Following ‘Super Tuesdays’ have taken place on March 10,1992, March 12, 1996; March 7, 2000; and March 2, 2004. In 2000, 16 states held primaries on Super Tuesday, the largest presidential primary election day in U.S. history until 2008. In 2008 the outrages number of 24 states held primaries or caucasuses.
Summary of Chapters
1. History of ‘Super Tuesday’: This chapter provides an overview of the origins, terminology, and historical development of 'Super Tuesday', analyzing the strategic move by Southern states and the subsequent growth in the number of participating states over time.
Keywords
Super Tuesday, presidential election, primary elections, caucuses, delegates, American politics, nomination, political campaign, voters, campaign strategy, political history, Democratic Party, Republican Party, superdelegates, electoral process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental subject of this term paper?
The paper explores the political phenomenon known as 'Super Tuesday' in the United States, investigating its origins and its role in the presidential primary election cycle.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The core themes include the strategic timeline of U.S. primary elections, the influence of state-level scheduling on candidate success, and the broader implications for the democratic process.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The goal is to explain why 'Super Tuesday' became a fixture in American politics and to analyze the various pros and cons of holding multiple state primaries on a single day.
Which scientific method is utilized in this paper?
The work employs a qualitative analysis of political history, secondary literature, and current media reports from the 2008 election period.
What aspects are addressed in the main body of the paper?
The main body discusses the historical emergence of the term, the tactical reasons states shift their primary dates, the impact on campaign momentum, and the challenges such as 'tarmac campaigning'.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key terms include 'Super Tuesday', presidential primaries, delegates, campaign dynamics, and political strategy within the U.S. electoral system.
Why do states choose to participate in 'Super Tuesday'?
States aim to increase their political leverage and ensure their voters have a meaningful impact on the selection of nominees, rather than having the candidate decided by states voting earlier in the season.
What are the perceived negative consequences of a compressed primary schedule?
Downsides include the rise of 'tarmac campaigning', the neglect of states that are not perceived as 'high-potential' by candidates, and the potential for a perception of illegitimacy if nominations are decided too quickly.
How do 'Superdelegates' differ from regular delegates?
Unlike delegates selected through primaries or caucuses, superdelegates are party officials or elected officeholders who are seated automatically and are free to support any candidate for the nomination.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Janina Maier (Autor:in), 2008, History of ‘Super Tuesday’, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/142304
