A Guide to the American Primary Season
A series of presidential primary elections are held in each US State and Territory in order toelect the nominee for the Democratic and Republican parties. The votes determine how many delegates will represent that candidate from a certain state. The Democrats split the delegates of that state proportionately to votes; however, the Republican Party rules vary among states. Most have the winner-take-all method, a few split them proportionately, and the rest split them by who wins at the local and state level. In order to clinch the nomination, a candidate must receive half of the total delegates. The so-called "superdelegates," who are party leaders and elected officials, for example members of the senate, are also allowed to place a vote for a candidate of choice.
Barack Obama
John McCain
This season, the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain, was decided quite early onas the voters showed overwhelming support. The presumptive Democratic nominee, Barack Obama, however, was decided much later than normal due to a tight race against Hillary Rodham Clinton. On Tuesday, June 3rd, as the 53rd primary results came in and as the superdelegates showed an overwhelming flow of support, Obama reached the 2,118 delegate count that he needed. A few days later, Clinton suspended her campaign and urged her supporters to vote for Obama in the general election in November, saying she will do anything it takes to help him unite the party and beat McCain.
In recent news, the presidential candidates have chosen their vice-president running mates. Obama´s vice-president nominee, Joe Biden, is a senator from Delaware. McCain has decided to nominate the current Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin. This announcement has caused quite a stir. The public is surprised that McCain would choose Palin as his running mate because of her limited experience. His decision has heavily influenced voters’ opinion but the recent economic crisis has had even more of an effect on the American public. According to public opinion, immigration and climate change are important themes in this election but the crucial issues are the war in Iraq, the healthcare system, and the economy, which includes taxes and the current job situation. Obama has taken a more socialistic stance on this issue by increasing the minimum wage, whereas McCain is more interested in bailing out Wall Street by using government funds.
Many people are skeptical that the long, drawn out primary season will hurt the democrats and that Obama's motto of "change we can believe in" will not be enough to win against McCain's experience. In recent surveys, however, Obama is shown to be the more popular candidate. But until the polls close on November 4th, 2008, anything is possible.
English |
German |
primary election |
Vorwahlen |
to elect |
wählen |
proportionately |
im Verhältnis |
nomination |
Nominierung |
presumptive candidate |
designierter Kandidat |
delegate |
Delegierter |
to unite |
vereinigen |
| are held | finden statt |
in order to elect the nominee |
um einen Kandidaten zu wählen |
to determine |
hier: entscheiden |
a certain state |
ein bestimmter Staat |
to split |
teilen |
rules |
Regeln |
| to vary | abweichen |
among |
zwischen |
winner-take-all |
alles-oder-nichts |
local and state level |
lokale und staatliche Ebene |
to clinch |
hier: gewinnen |
officials |
hier: Parteifunktionäre |
allowed to place a vote |
wählen dürfen |
of choice |
nach ihrer Wahl |
was decided |
wurde entschieden |
as |
da |
early on |
früh |
overwhelming |
überwältigend |
due to |
wegen |
tight race |
starke Konkurrenz |
primary results |
Ergebnisse der Vorwahlen |
came in |
hereinkamen |
support |
Unterstützung |
to suspend |
beenden |
to urge |
drängen |
beat |
besiegen |
caused quite a stir |
hat Unruhe verursacht |
influence heavily |
schwer beeinflussen |
crisis |
Krise |
according to |
laut |
crucial |
kritisch |
stance |
Haltung |
minimum wage |
Lohnuntergrenze |
whereas |
wohingegen |
bailing out |
jmd. aus der Klemme helfen |
drawn out |
lang gezogen |
hurt |
schaden |
survey |
Befragung |
polls |
Wahlen |
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