Question

Which of the following statements best explains how candidate-centered campaigns have weakened the influence of political parties on the political process?

A. Candidates can raise campaign funds by appealing to voters and PACs directly
B. Candidates have become less reliant on parties to register citizens to vote in elections
C. Candidates have refused to identify with parties in hopes of gaining independent voters
D. Candidates have come to rely heavily on party platforms to gain voter support

Answer 1

Candidate-centered campaigns weaken political party influence because candidates can independently raise funds and appeal directly to voters and PACs, utilizing modern technologies to engage with the electorate.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that best explains how candidate-centered campaigns have weakened the influence of political parties on the political process is A. Candidates can raise campaign funds by appealing to voters and PACs directly. This trend signifies that candidates are becoming more independent in their campaign strategies, and less reliant on the party's financial and organizational resources. Advances in communication technologies have facilitated this shift, allowing candidates to reach potential supporters through social media, television ads, and personal websites, circumventing traditional party mechanisms.

Historically, political parties played a crucial role in mobilizing support and resources for candidates. However, with the advent of candidate-centered campaigns, individuals such as Ross Perot and Donald J. Trump have exemplified the ability to bypass party infrastructure and engage directly with the electorate, thereby diminishing party control over the political process.