It’s less than two weeks until the presidential cycle kicks off in Iowa and the campaign spending really starts flowing in races up and down the ballot. A few questions […]
The Tea Party in Review
Without question, the Time Magazine person of the year must be the nameless, faceless Tea Partier (along the lines of, but better than 2006’s “You”). From “Astroturf” to ascendency, the […]
There’s an app for that
As Americans increasingly turn to mobile phones as their primary platform of communication, survey researchers must adapt with new methodologies to reach audiences no longer connected to landline telephones. The […]
What to do with a Lost Cause
In the lead up to almost any election, you can find some people who’ll always believe that their candidate has a chance to win, even if he or she is […]
Barbour’s Exit from 2012 Field Frees Up Operatives
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour’s announcement Monday that he would not run for president in 2012 came as something of a surprise. He had trips to a number of early primary […]
VR and 360 Video: What Campaigns Can Use Right Now
I’ve heard more than one Ted Talk over the past couple of years focused on how Virtual Reality is about to “revolutionize everything.” I even read an article prior to […]
The Media Mix: What Campaigns Can Learn from the 2018 Midterm Elections
In today’s fast-paced world it can be difficult for campaigns to stand out, especially when voters are sent messages from a variety of platforms, including print, TV, radio and digital. […]
Four Questions for 2010
Money, Politics and the CourtThe Ruling | What It Means | Should Media Consultants Jump? | Questions For 2010 What will the FEC’s new rules look like? This is a […]
Protecting your campaign committee from fraud
Conventional wisdom would have you believe that misappropriation of campaign funds in the political world is a rare occurrence. But the truth is that no one really knows how widespread […]
What We’ll Be Watching For On Election Day
What are the things to look for as election results begin to come in for the 2020 race? This article lays out two key questions the early presidential results should answer.
4 Questions Consultants Will Face In 2017
This was a cycle that raised important questions for consultants instead of providing answers on the direction of the industry. It was supposed to be a cycle driven at the […]
The Questions to Ask Your Media Buyer in ’22
In the midterm cycle, buyers need to demonstrate how they’re measuring reach, audience size, and the effectiveness of your campaign’s creative.
Ask the Campaign Doc: Six Questions You Always Wanted to Ask
Q: Is it okay for judicial candidates to run as a slate? Several colleagues and I have been talking about doing that in our local elections next year. A: Hmmm. […]
Why Political Design Is Embracing โHeritage And Historyโ
In this interview, one political design expert breaks down political branding trends and how designers can work with non-design campaign staff.
7 Ways to Stretch Your Ad Budget
Consultants naturally stake out organizational turf and many are guilty of driving their flag too deep into the ground. While having a static budget for these territories worked 10 years […]
Truth in Advertising: Fact-checking Outfits Monitor Claims in Political Ads
Public mistrust of political advertising and other communications is hardly new. But a poll released last month found that a majority of voters believe they were frequently misled during the […]
The Kitchen-Sink Approach On Digital Might Just Pay Off
It’s well-known to the scientific community, if not your parents, that cognitive biases impact the decisions we think we’re making based on rational choice. That investment you didn’t make because […]
An Off-Year Innovation Playbook For Dems
In an open letter to the candidates for chair of the DNC, former DNC CTO Bryan Whitaker and I made the case that the new head of the DNC should […]
AI and Political Campaigns: Let’s Get Real
Artificial intelligence is coming for your next campaign, ready or not. At the least, people who want to sell AI to your campaign are coming, and it behooves us to […]
Pollster Research 2000 to Represent Self in Civil Trial
Last June, the liberal blog Daily Kos sued Research 2000, its pollster since 2007, for allegedly providing fraudulent polling data. A negotiated settlement between the two parties has reportedly fallen […]
3 Digital Lessons from the U.S. for European Campaigners
With the rise of digitalization, an unprecedented amount of data is now available to political marketers and politicians. The desire to utilize this information in electioneering has resulted in far […]
The collectible yard signย
What was on my Christmas list? Yard signs, of course. And this season didn’t disappoint. But for those politicos whose cravings went unfulfilled by this year’s gift haul, don’t fret. […]
Reagan’s Disciple: George W. Bush’s Quest for a Presidential Legacy By Lou Cannon and Carl M. Cannon PublicAffairs, 364 pp., $27.95
Although President George W. Bush is part of an Oval Office father-son dynasty, he doesn’t draw much ideological inspiration from his namesake. The best way to contextualize his presidency is […]
Why Scammy Fundraising Practices Should Concern Both Sides
The ethics of political email fundraising are in the spotlight following questions about the Trump campaignโs recurring donation practices and signs from the Department of Justice that the feds could start cracking down on โmaterial misrepresentationโ in email fundraising. In this article, Democratic strategist Mike Nellis, who runs the digital firm Authentic, makes the case that scammy fundraising practices should concern campaigners on both sides of the aisle.