Meet the Candidates

Table of Contents

Comparing the Candidates

Third Party Candidates

Green Party

Primary Candidates and Presidential Announcements

Key Question: Evaluate the way each candidate approaches their presidential campaign announcement and stump speech.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. Is there a common structure to the announcement or stump speech? Types of introductions? Tag lines/slogans? Music? Significance of the place they announce their candidacy?

  2. What are common topics being discussed in each of their announcements or stump speeches?

  3. Identify the target audience (i.e. region, gender, party vs. general population, etc.) Explain what indicates that this is the candidate’s target audience.

  4. In your opinion, which qualities make them viable as Presidential candidates?

  5. Compare and contrast historical announcements or stump speeches with the current ones.

Democratic Party Primary Candidates

Listed in order of their announcement dates.

Joe Biden (4/25/2019- 3:41)

John Delaney (7/28/17- 4:47) Withdrew 1/31/2020

Andrew Yang (11/7/2017- 6:48) Withdrew 2/11/2020

Julian Castro (1/12/2019- 3:46) Withdrew 1/2/2020

Kamala Harris (1/27/2019- 5:22) Withdrew 12/3/2019

Marrianne Williamson (1/28/2019- 5:36) Withdrew 1/10/2020

Tulsi Gabbard (2/3/2019- 5:01) Withdrew 3/19/2020

Elizabeth Warren (2/9/2019- 5:05) Withdrew 3/5/2020

Amy Klobuchar (2/10/2019- 3:59) Withdrew 3/2/2020

Jay Inslee (3/1/2019- 1:39) Withdrew 8/21/2019

Bernie Sanders (3/2/2019- 3:36) Withdrew 4/8/2020

John Hickenlooper (3/7/2019- 5:20) Withdrew 8/15/2019

Kirsten Gillibrand (3/24/2019- 4:30) Withdrew 8/28/2019

Wayne Messam (3/28/2019-3:34) Withdrew 11/20/2019

Beto O'Rourke (3/30/2019- 5:14) Withdrew 11/1/2019

Tim Ryan (4/6/2018- 5:15) Withdrew 10/24/2019

Mike Gravel (4/8/2019- 3:30) Withdrew 8/6/2019

Cory Booker (4/13/2019- 3:31) Withdrew 1/13/2020

Pete Buttigieg (4/14/2019- 5:21) Withdrew 3/1/2020

Eric Swalwell (4/14/2019- 3:17) Withdrew 7/7/2019

Seth Moulton (4/22/2019- 4:25) Withdrew 8/23/2019

Michael Bennet (5/2/2019- 4:48) Withdrew 2/11/2020

Steve Bullock (5/14/2019- 4:24) Withdrew 12/2/2019

Bill de Blasio (5/16/2019- 5:34) Withdrew 9/20/2019

Joe Sestak (6/23/2019- 5:42) Withdrew 12/1/2019

Tom Steyer (7/9/2019- 8:06) Withdrew 2/29/2020

Deval Patrick (11/14/2019- 7:25) Withdrew 2/12/2020

Michael Bloomberg (11/24/2019- 5:05) Withdrew 3/4/2020

Republican Party Primary Candidates

Listed in order of their announcement dates.

Bill Weld Campaign Announcement (4/16/2019- 1:46) Withdrew 3/18/2020

Bill Weld Campaign Speech (8/11/2019- 2:15) Withdrew 3/18/2020

Joe Walsh Campaign Announcement (8/25/2019- 1:40) Withdrew 2/7/2020

Mark Sanford Campaign Announcement (9/8/2019- 1:57) Withdrew 11/12/2019

Historical Campaign Announcements

Listed in chronological order

1952 Dwight Eisenhower (6/4/1952) 1:56)

1968 Robert F. Kennedy (3/16/1968- 5:24)

1972 Shirley Chisholm (1/25/1972- 4:54)

1980 Ronald Reagan (11/13/1979- 3:02)

1988 Jesse Jackson (10/10/1987- 2:04)

1988 Joe Biden (6/9/1987- 2:41)

1988 George H.W. Bush (10/12/1987- 2:21)

1992 Ross Perot (10/1/1992- 2:12)

1992 Bill Clinton (10/3/1987- 2:39)

1996 Bob Dole (4/10/1995- 2:45)

2000 Al Gore (6/6/1999- 2:10)

2000 George W. Bush (6/12/1999- 3:57)

2008 Senator Barack Obama (2/10/2007- 3:14)

2008 John McCain (4/25/2007- 3:27)

2016 Hillary Clinton (4/25/2015- 2:15)

2016 Bernie Sanders (5/26/2015- 3:18)

2016 Donald Trump (6/16/2015- 3:08)

Culminating Assessment

How would you announce your candidacy?Choose a date: Be mindful of the date you select to ensure the best media exposure. Consider major events, holidays, and other potential conflicts.Create a theme and overall message: Why are you running for this office? What are the important issues in your campaign? What sets you apart? How has your background inspired you? Create a marketable slogan.Select a location to announce: It should relate to your message and be relevant to your campaign. Choose the background carefully. Consider that this is a significant opportunity for you to connect with your audience.Choose your guests: Who would you want to introduce you and why? Would you have performers, if so who would they be? Who else would you want to be in attendance (key figures, major organizations, associations, clubs, press)?Choose your music: What song would you want to be played as you enter? What song would you want to play as you exit? How do these song choices tie in with your theme and message?

Qualifications and Characteristics of Candidates

Key Question: What qualifications and factors do voters see as important in presidential elections?

Bell Ringer: Washington Outsiders as Presidential Candidates (9/22/2019- 2:56)

Video Clip: Does age matter for presidential candidates? (4/17/2019- 3:51)

Demographics and the Candidates

Key Question: What role have race, gender, age and religion played in presidential elections?

Video Clip: Sen. Obama on Race & Politics (3/18/2008 – 10:16)

Video Clip: Millennial Women and the Election (07/26/16 – 3:30)

Video Clip: Gov. Mitt Romney on Religion (12/6/2007 – 3:12)

Culminating Assessment

Have students create a timeline of historical events relating to age, race, gender and religion in politics. Then discuss progress and areas where we still need to improve.

  • Research other minorities and women who have run for office. How was their path similar or dissimilar to the examples provided above?

Reflection Questions

  • Explain the meaning of the phrase, the separation of church and state, as it pertains to religion in America.

  • Does a candidate's religious beliefs and expression of those beliefs, affect your personal views of the candidate? How could their expression make them more of a viable candidate? How could it hurt their campaign?

  • Is a candidate's religion an important issue for you as a voter? Why or why not?