Weekly Election Newsletter for Homeschoolers

Do the Presidential Candidates Get a Summer Break?
 
The 2016 primary contests are now officially over. The last one, the Washington, D.C. Democratic primary, was held on Tuesday. From now until the parties’ July conventions, when the delegates will officially vote to confirm the nominees, the presidential campaign season will be in an in-between, summer break phrase. The candidates, however, do not get much of a breathing spell. What do the campaigns do during this interlude? Here are three of the most important things.
 
1. Repair damage
 
Primary contests are bruising. All of the negativity does damage to the candidates’ images. The candidates will spend their summer breaks trying to repair the damage.
 
2. Unify the party
 
The candidates must also try to win over the members of the party who did not vote for them. The primary season features contests where party members run against one another. Not all primary voters supported the winners. The primaries can reveal splits within the party. Therefore, the summer interlude is a chance for the campaigns to get their party members to come together and support the winners. 
 
3. Pick a running mate
 
The nominees must also choose a vice presidential running mate, also called the “veep” for short. The candidates will choose somebody who can help them win in November. Behind the scenes, the campaigns are vetting—or carefully examining—potential vice presidential candidates.
 
Next week, we’ll be back with more tips for engaging your homeschool family in the presidential election
 

Suggested Activities:

• 5-Minute Kids Challenge

Brainstorm a list of the qualities the vice presidential nominee for your favorite candidate should have.

• Homework

Read the newspaper or watch the television news. Can you spot any stories about the candidates trying to repair damage and unify the party? Can you spot anybody guessing about the vice presidential running mates?

• 2016 Question for Discussion:

What must Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump say and do to repair their images and unify their parties?
   
Coming Up:
Republican National Convention, July 18-21 in Cleveland, Ohio
Democratic National Convention, July 25-28 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 
Learn More!
 
Want to learn more about the primary season, vice presidential running mates, delegates, superdelegates, and other fun facts? Try our Presidential Elections unit study.  Want more tips like these?  Sign up for our newsletter. 

---