There are several similarities between the presidential campaign of 1984, and the presidential campaign of 2008, specifically, the length of the democratic primary (resulting in interparty conflict), the fact that themes not issues dominated the contest, the age issue, and the economic deficit. The presidential campaign experienced an extremely long democratic primary, with a number of contenders entering the contest in the beginning. In 1984 there were a total of 8 candidates initially, vying for the Democratic nomination, Governor Reuben, Senator Alan Cranston, Senator John Glenn, Senator Gary Hart, Senator Earnest Hollings, and Civil Rights Activist Jesse Jackson, AFL president Lane Kirkland, Senator George McGovern, and Former Vice President Walter Mondale. The 2008 Democratic Primary began in the same way with 8 contenders vying for the nomination, Senator Barack Obama, Senator Hillary Clinton, Former senator John Edwards, Senator Joe Biden, Senator Chris Dodd, former Senator Mike Gravel, US representative Dennis Kucinich, and Governor Bill Richardson. In both of these presidential primaries the high number of Democrats vying for the nomination can be attributed to the fact that there was no clear Democratic candidate, allowing everyone in 1984, and 2008 to throw their hat in the ring. Due to the high number of democratic contenders vying for the nomination, conflicts between members of the Democratic Party can be found in 1984 and 2008.
In 1984 the democratic convention seemed to be split between Former Vice President Walter F. Mondale, Civil Rights Activist Jesse Jackson, and Senator Gary Hart. In 2008 the Democratic candidates who garnered the most attention until recently has been Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, and former Senator John Edwards. As the campaign progressed in 1984 the primaries and the media seemed to reduce the democratic contenders to two, Walter Mondale, and Senator Gary Hart. In 1984 Walter Mondale was initially seen as the favorite to win the nomination (because he had tremendous party support) but Jesse Jackson and Gary Hart proved to be serious contenders in that they both gained tremendous backing, and Mr. Hart in particular proved to be the most challenging contender, winning a number of democratic primaries and gathering a significant following with young voters. Similarities can be drawn in the 2008 democratic primary where Senator Hillary Clinton was favored to win the nomination initially but then, Senator Barack Obama (who is seen as representing the young faction of the democratic party** Like Hart) began battling Senator Clinton for the nomination. Like in 1984, I am sure the Democratic Convention of 2008 will prove to be a divisive one.
Another point of comparison can be found in the thematic nature of the presidential contest in 1984 and 2008. In 1984 the campaigned was focused on “church, home, country and morality”, in 2008 the same issues seem to apply. The democratic and republican candidates in 2008 seem to be either dodging the religion question (Senator Obama and Senator McCain) or focusing on the importance of family, country and moral issues (aside from gay rights and abortion, no one wants to touch those).
Another correlation between the 1984 and 2008 presidential campaign is the age issue. In 1984 the fact that Ronald Regan was 73 became a point of criticism for both Democrats and Republicans. When rumors spread that Regan would routinely fall asleep at cabinet meetings, or would blank out when asked foreign policy questions, his age became a critical issue. In 2008 John McCain’s age has become somewhat of an issue. At the age of 71 McCain is one of the oldest people to run for the Presidency. Similar to 1984 McCain has tried to downplay the age issue by joking about it “"I'm older than dirt, more scars than Frankenstein, but I learned a few things along the way,"(MSNBC), only time will tell if McCain’s age will really be an issue.
Perhaps the most telling comparison between the 1984 and 2008 presidential campaign is the fact that in both campaigns the country was/and is in an economic deficit. In 1984 Mondale’s plan was to raise taxes, while Regan believed it was better to cut spending on social programs. In 2008 McCain seems to have a similar belief to Regan that raises taxes isn’t the answer, but seems to be more partial to tax cuts. Senator Obama on the other hand believes in “shifting the tax burden more toward the wealthy and making investments — in health care, alternative-energy research and education — that would cost a significant amount of money but could ultimately lift economic growth” (New York Times). Similar but somewhat different from Mr. Obama Senator Clinton plans on “Mrs. Clinton’s approach to the economy has three main components. She would roll back the Bush tax cuts for households with incomes over $250,000 while creating more tax breaks below that threshold; impose closer scrutiny on financial markets, including the investments being made by foreign governments in the United States; and raise spending on job-creating projects like the development of alternative energy” (New York Times).
Overall, several comparisons can be made between the presidential campaign of 1984 and 2008, specifically the sheer number of candidates, the internal party conflicts (within the Democratic Party), the thematic nature of the contest, the age issue, and the economic deficit. Only time will tell if the 2008 presidential contest will result in a Republican victory like the 1984 campaign did. Stay tuned.
In 1984 the democratic convention seemed to be split between Former Vice President Walter F. Mondale, Civil Rights Activist Jesse Jackson, and Senator Gary Hart. In 2008 the Democratic candidates who garnered the most attention until recently has been Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, and former Senator John Edwards. As the campaign progressed in 1984 the primaries and the media seemed to reduce the democratic contenders to two, Walter Mondale, and Senator Gary Hart. In 1984 Walter Mondale was initially seen as the favorite to win the nomination (because he had tremendous party support) but Jesse Jackson and Gary Hart proved to be serious contenders in that they both gained tremendous backing, and Mr. Hart in particular proved to be the most challenging contender, winning a number of democratic primaries and gathering a significant following with young voters. Similarities can be drawn in the 2008 democratic primary where Senator Hillary Clinton was favored to win the nomination initially but then, Senator Barack Obama (who is seen as representing the young faction of the democratic party** Like Hart) began battling Senator Clinton for the nomination. Like in 1984, I am sure the Democratic Convention of 2008 will prove to be a divisive one.
Another point of comparison can be found in the thematic nature of the presidential contest in 1984 and 2008. In 1984 the campaigned was focused on “church, home, country and morality”, in 2008 the same issues seem to apply. The democratic and republican candidates in 2008 seem to be either dodging the religion question (Senator Obama and Senator McCain) or focusing on the importance of family, country and moral issues (aside from gay rights and abortion, no one wants to touch those).
Another correlation between the 1984 and 2008 presidential campaign is the age issue. In 1984 the fact that Ronald Regan was 73 became a point of criticism for both Democrats and Republicans. When rumors spread that Regan would routinely fall asleep at cabinet meetings, or would blank out when asked foreign policy questions, his age became a critical issue. In 2008 John McCain’s age has become somewhat of an issue. At the age of 71 McCain is one of the oldest people to run for the Presidency. Similar to 1984 McCain has tried to downplay the age issue by joking about it “"I'm older than dirt, more scars than Frankenstein, but I learned a few things along the way,"(MSNBC), only time will tell if McCain’s age will really be an issue.
Perhaps the most telling comparison between the 1984 and 2008 presidential campaign is the fact that in both campaigns the country was/and is in an economic deficit. In 1984 Mondale’s plan was to raise taxes, while Regan believed it was better to cut spending on social programs. In 2008 McCain seems to have a similar belief to Regan that raises taxes isn’t the answer, but seems to be more partial to tax cuts. Senator Obama on the other hand believes in “shifting the tax burden more toward the wealthy and making investments — in health care, alternative-energy research and education — that would cost a significant amount of money but could ultimately lift economic growth” (New York Times). Similar but somewhat different from Mr. Obama Senator Clinton plans on “Mrs. Clinton’s approach to the economy has three main components. She would roll back the Bush tax cuts for households with incomes over $250,000 while creating more tax breaks below that threshold; impose closer scrutiny on financial markets, including the investments being made by foreign governments in the United States; and raise spending on job-creating projects like the development of alternative energy” (New York Times).
Overall, several comparisons can be made between the presidential campaign of 1984 and 2008, specifically the sheer number of candidates, the internal party conflicts (within the Democratic Party), the thematic nature of the contest, the age issue, and the economic deficit. Only time will tell if the 2008 presidential contest will result in a Republican victory like the 1984 campaign did. Stay tuned.
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