Weeding Out the Weak
The Political Prenomination Phase
In the surfacing phase, candidates must gain visibility, credibility, and a cohesive structure for their campaign. This pre-nomination phase represents a crucial time to spread name recognition and build public support. According to political scientists, Maisel and Stone, candidates must address three basic questions during this period before they decide to run: 1) Do I want it? 2) Can I get it? 3) Is this the time? In this analysis, candidates may emerge as a strong contender.
Preparing for a Campaign
Maisel and Stone's first question is one of personal ambition. The second question ponders whether an individual has the visibility, credibility, and necessary organizational structure to pull off a winning campaign. The third question is really a question of context and political environment. Jacobsen and Kernell argue that the political environment shapes a candidate’s decision to run and that the decision to run is based on ambition as well as the context. This context may be shaped by their opponent’s background and visibility among the total population. It is more difficult to challenge a well-like and established incumbent because the incumbent has both name recognition and (most of the time) credibility. Thus the ‘best time’ to run may be in times of an open seat race when a President has served all his available terms.
Media Attention and Political Campaigns
During this period, candidates must attempt to gain support via media attention to increase public recognition of their name, face, and prominent issues. The ability to raise funds is also a prerequisite to moving on towards the primary phase. However, this can often create a self fulfilling prophecy in regards to candidate quality and fund raising. Candidates can only raise funds when they have proven their quality and gained acceptable public support through name recognition and issue-claiming. However, in order to gain that recognition, candidates must have funds to begin with. Thus many potentially qualified candidates fail to pass on to the primary stage. This cycle may be broken if a candidate is able to attract the press into covering a story in which they played an important part in because it boosts their credibility and perceived candidate quality.
Campaign Staffing and Polling
The pre-nomination/surfacing phase can be a battleground for members of the same party seeking a headstart in the primary round. Campaigns need highly effective staffing organizations in order to manage the press, finances, and personal image of the candidate. Additionally, public opinion polls are an integral part of the surfacing process because they guide a candidate towards the issues and concerns of the people which can aid in position development. These early polls are also a key factor in breaking the candidate quality-finance cycle because they are a measure of proving candidate quality to potential donors.
For the next stage of the political process see Primary Races: Emerging in the Political Environment.
In order to survive, politicians must strong personal ambition, an effective campaign team, and the finances to spread name recognition. This process ensures that the most strong willed politicians survive this early stage.
Selection
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