winning the nomination, campaigning at the convention, and mobilizing support in the general election
nomination
The primaries are the elections in which candidates are selected to represent their respective parties in a general election.
General election
the political party conventions
decides which candidate will be given the party nomination to stand for election in the general election
The election to choose a party's candidate for a general election is called a primary election.
win party nomination any primary then general election
i thnk a caucus
Edmund Hillary took part in the 1975 general election, as a member of the "Citizens for Rowling" campaign. His involvement in this campaign was seen as precluding his nomination as Governor-General, with the position instead being offered to Keith Holyoake in 1977.
Before the general election is one or more primary elections, which narrows down a field of candidates.