Evaluate the 2012 presidential nomination campaign for evidence ...

[Evvie72]

Evaluate the 2012 presidential nomination campaign for evidence about how the length of the campaign can affect a party's chances of success.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

If you were an incumbent and had the choice of running either positive or negative ads, which type of ad would you feel served your campaign best, and why?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[jennafosdick]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Discuss how the Republican field was crowded while Obama was running uncontested in the Democratic nomination campaign.
2. Note that the Republican nomination campaign was contentious, with the various Republican candidates jockeying for position and attempting to undercut the other candidates. This may have hurt the Republicans by making them appear divisive and showcasing the Republican candidates' flaws.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Discuss how incumbents might prefer to run positive ads rather than negative ones if possible.
2. Discuss how it might be necessary to run negative ads if the polls are close or if the challenger has gone negative. It might be useful to run an inoculation ad to limit any potential damage that might be done if the opponent goes negative.

[Evvie72]

TYSM

[FergA]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it