With the advent of television and the widespread adoption of
primaries, the national parties' nominating conventions have
largely been reduced from decision-making bodies to a rubber
stamp function. The conventions are, in fact, tightly scripted
made-for-TV spectacles. Nonetheless, these quadrennial
gatherings still fulfill a vital function in the life of the
political parties and can provide a boost for the nominee. The
Changing Character of Conventions In the past, the national
convention served as a decision-making body, actually
determining the party's nominee. For example, the 1924
Democratic National Convention in New York lasted 17 days and
required 103 ballots to select John Davis as the nominee. The
last Democratic Convention to go beyond one ballot occurred in
1952, when Adlai Stevenson won on the third ballot; the 1948
Republican Convention went to a third ballot before New York
Governor Thomas E. Dewey won the nomination. Republicans had a
close vote in 1976 in Kansas City when President Ford prev