Editing President of the United States (section)

=== Campaigns and nomination ===
{{Main|United States presidential primary|United States presidential nominating convention}}
{{See also|United States presidential debates}}
[[File:Carter Reagan Debate 10-28-80.png|thumb|President [[Jimmy Carter]] (left) debates Republican nominee [[Ronald Reagan]] on October 28, 1980, during the [[1980 United States presidential election|1980 U.S. presidential campaign]].]]
The modern presidential campaign begins before the [[United States presidential primary|primary elections]], which the two major political parties use to clear the field of candidates before their [[United States presidential nominating convention|national nominating conventions]], where the most successful candidate is made the party's presidential nominee. Typically, the party's presidential candidate chooses a vice presidential nominee, and this choice is [[Rubber stamp (politics)|rubber-stamped]] by the convention. The most common previous profession of presidents is lawyer.<ref>International Law, US Power: The United States' Quest for Legal Security, p 10, Shirley V. Scott—2012</ref>

Nominees participate in [[United States presidential debates|nationally televised debates]], and while the debates are usually restricted to the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominees, [[Third party (United States)|third party]] candidates may be invited, such as [[Ross Perot]] in the 1992 debates. Nominees campaign across the country to explain their views, convince voters and solicit contributions. Much of the modern electoral process is concerned with winning [[swing state]]s through frequent visits and [[mass media]] advertising drives.