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Convene on the Conventions

Examine what happens at each political party’s convention. This is one of the most anti-climatic parts of modern day Presidential campaigns. The delegate votes are known, the vice-presidential candidates have been chosen, so why do we still hold conventions? The answer is simple – it is the time when both parties need to look their best for prospective voters. Each party tries to “out do” the other in gathering cross-over voters to their cause. Remember the homecoming pep rally against your school’s biggest rival? Remember the hype and hullabaloo to rally support for your team? Then you can understand what the National Nominating Convention is trying to accomplish.

Convention logo

Sites to Explore

What are the components of a convention? Grolier's has an answer.

http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/ea/side/polconv.html

Take a look at the basics. While at this site, be sure to click on the four media items to get an up close and personal look at the conventions.

Note: QuickTime 3 or better is needed to view the media items in this site. To obtain this player, click here: QuickTime.
http://encarta.msn.com/index/conciseindex/53/05371000.htm?z=1&pg=2&br=1

Convention speeches – take a look at a few of history’s latest and greatest. Sometimes style counts more that substance.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/jesse/speeches/

What was said in the election of 1996? Find out here. Be sure to scroll to the bottom and click on the Republican button to learn about both major parties.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/convention96/floor_speeches/

It's a media circus! Discover the emerging role of the media blitz and show biz components of the conventions in these sites.

http://www.roundtablegroup.com/dnc/media/production.html

http://www.roundtablegroup.com/dnc/media/spin.html