This paper focuses on the analysis of financial resources such as fundraising and personal net worth in conjunction with media coverage as well as other aspects and the impact of money on the presidential elections in 2016. Money is an essential necessity in order to make a political campaign successful as it contributes to the name recognition of a candidate even more when the respective candidate has access to sufficient resources and thereby more access to voters than candidates with less financial resources and less financial contributions by others. In the 2016 presidential election process two well-known candidates have been nominated. Both already previously have made their mark and have become prominent members of the American society and media sphere.
The impact of finances in political processes is of interest to both scholars and laymen. Two major issues are mostly being focused on: “the sources of campaign contributions” and “the impact of campaign contributions on electoral outcomes”, meaning the relationship betweeen fundraising and the success within the respective election. The correlation between the number of votes and expenditures is crucial to the process of voting: “if campaign expenditures do not translate into votes, then expenditures are irrelevant”.
Since candidates are eager to raise more money than all the other candidates and since the public contributes to a candidate’s finances, money must matter within the framework of political elections, otherwise money would be ignored and not raised. It has been found that electoral outcomes are influenced by four factors: “campaign expenditures, incumbency, party strength, and idiosyncratic factors”, which are campaign styles, scandals, local issues and other factors. While generally higher expenditures lead to more votes, additional expenditures after having convinced apathetic supporters do not have a significant effect anymore, which means campaign expenditures function according to the principle of diminishing marginal returns.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Financial Aspects of Political Campaigning: Campaign Financing and Campaign Expenditures
- The Presidential Election System, Campaign Fundraising and Endorsements
- Correlations of Campaign Financing and Election Results
- Trump's Wallstreet and Clinton's Silicon Valley?
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes the role of financial resources in the 2016 US presidential election, focusing on the impact of campaign financing, personal net worth, and media coverage on the election outcome. The paper explores the relationship between financial resources and factors such as candidate name recognition, media attention, voter behavior, and the overall success of the campaign.
- The influence of financial resources on candidate visibility and name recognition.
- The relationship between campaign expenditures and electoral outcomes.
- The role of media coverage and public perception in the context of financial resources.
- The impact of fundraising and personal net worth on the presidential election process.
- The influence of financial resources on voter behavior and the allocation of resources within a campaign.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: Introduces the topic of financial resources and their significance in US presidential elections. The author argues that money plays a crucial role in campaign success, contributing to candidate name recognition and access to voters.
- Financial Aspects of Political Campaigning: Campaign Financing and Campaign Expenditures: This chapter explores the impact of finances on political processes, focusing on campaign financing and campaign expenditures. It examines the correlation between campaign spending and electoral outcomes, arguing that while higher expenditures generally lead to more votes, there is a point of diminishing returns.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper explores key themes and concepts related to the role of financial resources in the 2016 US presidential election. These include campaign financing, campaign expenditures, candidate name recognition, media coverage, voter behavior, fundraising, and the relationship between financial resources and electoral outcomes. The paper also examines the impact of financial resources on key aspects of the presidential election process, such as resource allocation, momentum, and public perception.
- Quote paper
- Lioba Frings (Author), 2017, The United States Presidential Election in 2016. How Did the Financial Resources Impact the Campaigns and the Results?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/511822
