Each of the two party nominees receives about $68 million in federal money.
From 1980 to 2008 the winner in the Republican primary has gone on to become the party nominee.
The new system allowed many independent politicians to run against big party nominees.
He was re-elected in 2007 and 2009 as the Democratic party nominee.
She was the first woman to be a major party vice-presidential nominee.
This visit took place before the two senators were chosen as party nominees.
From 1960 until 1976, the Senate provided nearly all the party nominees and most of the serious candidates for the nomination.
Primary elections to determine political party nominees were held on September 12, 2006.
In both cases, these delegates then choose party nominees for the general presidential election.
The two major party nominees are each expected to raise and spend more than $500 million by Election Day.