1. Still grading journals,
Please take out a second
sheet of paper for today’s
opener.
In case of a code red…

2. DRAW A LINE SEPARATING TODAY &
YESTERDAY
1) Write: Date: 11/04/10, Topic: General Elections
2) Next line, write “Opener #39” and then:
1) Write 1 high+1 low in last 24 hours
2) Rate your understanding of
yesterday: lost<1-5>too easy (3 is perfect)
3) Respond to the Opener by writing
at least 1 sentences about:
Your opinions/thoughts OR/AND
Questions sparked by the clip OR/AND
Summary of the clip OR/AND

3. Agenda
1) General Elections
Primary Objective
1) How does America choose its
president?
Reminder
1) Complete podcast, pick election
stories.

4. Review
Primary Elections (Jan-Jun)
Voters Vote
Based on Voter Results,
Delegated Pledged to Candidates
Delegates go to Convention
(Aug), 50%+ is winner.
Dem: 20% of
del. Are super
del, pledged to
no one.
Focus most
energy on first 2:
IA, NH (Jan)
Gen elec in Nov

7. Notes #39a, Title: “General Election Notes”
1) General Election (Nov): Primary winner from each
party (including 3rd
parties) fight.
Ppl Vote > Electoral College Votes > Winner
2) Electoral College (EC) (Dec): Constitutionally
created a safety check. Each state legislatures
picks ppl to be electors (538). EC electors pledge
to vote how state’s voters voted.
3) EC Representation: Each state gets # of electors
equal to # US Senators (2) + # of US House
members (53). Total: 100+435+3 for DC=538
4) General Election is Winner Takes All (270): Unlike
primaries, general elec is winner takes all. If
someone wins plurality (more than others) of the
voters, they get ALL that state’s electoral votes.

8. Notes #39a, Title: “General Election Notes”
1) General Election (Nov): Primary winner from each
party (including 3rd
parties) fight.
Ppl Vote > Electoral College Votes > Winner (270)

9. Notes #39a, Title: “General Election Notes”
2) Electoral College (EC) (Dec): Constitutionally
created a safety check/state empowerment. Each
state legislatures picks ppl to be electors (538). EC
electors pledge to vote how state’s voters voted.

10. Notes #39a, Title: “General Election Notes”
3) EC Representation: Each state gets # of electors
equal to # US Senators (2) + # of US House
members (53). Total: 100+435+3 for DC=538

11. House: 435
Senate: 100
DC: 3
435+100+3=538
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/calculator/

12. Notes #39a, Title: “General Election Notes”
4) General Election is Winner Takes All (270): Unlike
primaries, general elec is winner takes all. If
someone wins plurality (more than others) of the
voters, they get ALL that state’s electoral votes.

14. 5) Electoral College Numbers: House (435)+
Senate (100)+DC (3)=538. Over 50% to win the
EC. 538/2=269. 269+1=270. So 270/538 to win.

15. House: 435
Senate: 100
DC: 3
435+100+3=538
538/2=269=50%, 270/538=50.1%
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/calculator/

16. If you won the 11 biggest states by
50.01% and no one in the next 39
states voted for you, you can win with
1/3 of America’s
voters

21. Barbara Lett-Simmons (2000)

23. POPULATION EC
US 296,410,404 538
California 36,553,215 55
Texas 23,904,380 34
New York 19,297,729 31
North Dakota 639,715 3
Vermont 621,254 3
Wyoming 522,830 3

24. Journ #39a, “Electoral College Debate”
1) Read the 2 sides, choose 1 side, and write
which you choose and explain why.
2) Then write down what your partner thinks
(include their name at the end).
1 2 3 4 5
CON: Ditch the EC
1) EC makes candidates
ignore really liberal or
conservative states
2) CA, biggest state
totally ignored, give
each voter equal voice
PRO: Keep the EC
1) Its worked so far
(kinda)
2) Small states get at least
3 EC, they need an
amplified voice
3) One day we might need

25. Notes #39b, Title: “General Election Notes”
6) Swing Strategy: Ignore loyal and opponent states,
focus on swing.
Current key swing states: Ohio, Florida, Nevada
7) Microtarget:
Money +
Time of
Volunteers
are Scarce,
Target Use

27. 2008: OBAMA: 365 MCCAIN: 173
69,456,897 (53%) 59,934,814 (46%)

28. 2004: BUSH: 286 KERRY: 251
62,040,610 (51%) 59,028,444 (48%)

29. 2000: BUSH: 271 Gore: 266, 1 abstain
50,456,002 (49%) 50,999,897 (49%)

30. BUSH:
2,912,790
GORE:
2,912,253
Difference:
537 (MV Mock: 590)

37. Journ #39b, Title “Review Activity”
Review Activity Roles: not the real mock election
i) Campaign Manager (leader/speech
writer/debate prep)
ii) Debater (What would you do as president?)
iii) Ad Maker (make 5 ads)
iv) Ad Maker (make 5 ads)
DEM: Team 1: Edwards Team 2: Obama
Team 3: RichardsonTeam 4: Clinton
Team 5: Biden
GOP: Team 6: McCain Team 7: Paul
Team 8: Giuliani Team 9: Thompson
1) Write down your activity role
2) Prepare debate draft or ad in journal.

38. Journ #39b, Title “Review Activity”
Election Day (ONLY VOTE WHEN ITS OUR TURN)
Team 1: NH/IA:
Team 2: CA/OR/WA:
Team 3: NV/UT/AZ/CO/NM:
Team 4: ND/SD/NE/KS/OK/TX:
Team 5: AR/LA/MS/AL/GA/SC/TN/KY:
Team 6: IN/OH/WV/VA/NC:
Team 7: MN/WI/IL/IN/MI:
Team 8: OH/FL/PA:
Team 9: MD/DE/DC/NJ/CT/MA/NH/NY/ME:
2 extra participation points for primary winner
and general election winner

39. Journ #39b, Title “Review Activity”
Election Day (ONLY VOTE WHEN ITS OUR TURN)
Team 1: NH/IA: 11
Team 2: CA/OR/WA: 73
Team 3: NV/UT/AZ/CO/NM: 34
Team 4: ND/SD/NE/KS/OK/TX: 58
Team 5: AR/LA/MS/AL/GA/SC/TN/KY: 72
Team 6: IN/OH/WV/VA/NC: 64
Team 7: MN/WI/IL/IN/MI: 69
Team 8: OH/FL/PA: 68
Team 9: MD/DE/DC/NJ/CT/MA/NH/NY/ME: 89
2 extra participation points for primary winner
and general election winner

40. Journ #39b, “ 2012 EC Strategy”
1) Read the chart with a partner (write
their name, decide which candidate are
you working for), and label your list (I-
Impossible, L-Loyal, and S-Swing based
on %), AND add Loyal and Swing to your
list until you get to 270.
CREATE A LIST AND ADD UP L+S
California 55 Hawaii 4
New York 31
Total of L+S: should reach 270

41. HI: 4
AK: 3

42. Journ #39b, Title “2008 EC Strategy”
Hunstman: China Am/Ut Gov, worth $1 billion
Obama: President
Bloomberg: NYC Mayor, worth $18 billion
Election Day (ONLY VOTE WHEN ITS OUR TURN)
Team 1: NH/IA: 11
Team 2: CA/OR/WA: 73
Team 3: NV/UT/AZ/CO/NM: 34
Team 4: ND/SD/NE/KS/OK/TX: 58
Team 5: AR/LA/MS/AL/GA/SC/TN/KY: 72
Team 6: IN/OH/WV/VA/NC: 64
Team 7: MN/WI/IL/IN/MI: 69
Team 8: OH/FL/PA: 68
Team 9: MD/DE/DC/NJ/CT/MA/NH/NY/ME: 89

43. Journ #39c, Title “Mock
Election Preview”
2) What will be your winning
strategy?
(keep in mind voter profile
and regional characteristics)

44. Journ #39d, Title “Student Election”
1) Copy Source Title: Frontrunners
2…) Discuss questions on the board
with a partner. Summarize your
discussion (include their name at the
end). Remember participation points
are deducted if off task.
5 Reading/Film Qs Come From These Work Sections

48. John Boehner

49. Kamela Harris

50. Nikki Haley/Nimrata Randhawa

51. Gavin Newsom

52. Jon Favreau