The “Washington Read” is the phenomenon by which, through a form of intellectual osmosis, a book is absorbed “inside the Beltway.” From the Washingtonian: According …
To have your opponent by the “short hairs” means that you’ve got them in a tight spot, and they are at your mercy.
If you’re …
A “scorched earth” approach is a ruthless attempt to win at all costs.
A “take no prisoners” approach is a rough synonym; both terms imply …
“Chum” is campaign gear such as bumper stickers, lawn signs, and campaign buttons.
The concept of chum draws its metaphorical origins from the practice of …
“Smell of jet fuel” is a reference to the impatience that sets in when Members of Congress are ready to leave Washington, D.C. to return …
In politics, a “turkey farm” refers to a government agency or department that is staffed primarily with political appointments and other patronage hires.
In …
“Triangulation” is when a political candidate presents his or her views as being above and between the left and right sides of the …
“Spin Alley” is the place designated after a political debate where reporters interview analysts and campaign operatives who attempt to “spin” the news coverage of …
A “push poll” is a form of interactive marketing in which political operatives try to sway voters to believe in certain policies or candidates under …
The “cracker vote” refers to native Floridian white voters, whose families have typically lived in the state for generations.
The term “cracker” originated in the …
A “favorite son” candidate is one who draws their support from the home state or from the broader region. Sometimes the term is also used …
The “Fourth Estate” refers to the news media, especially with regards to their role in the political process.
The phrase has its origins in the …
A “discharge petition” is a strategic, often controversial, legislative tool that serves to circumvent traditional committee review and bring a bill directly to …
“Political suicide” is an unpopular action that is likely to cause significant harm to their reputation, electoral success, or power within their organization.
These actions …
The “full Ginsburg” refers to an appearance by one person on all five major Sunday-morning interview shows on the same day:
A “straw poll” refers to an informal or unofficial vote conducted to gauge the popularity of candidates running for office, or to measure the opinion …
A “push card” is a small, easy access, wallet-sized campaign sign typically given to a potential voter during door-to-door canvassing or at an event.
They’re …
In politics, “mudslinging” is a tactic used by candidates or other politicians in order to damage the reputation of a rival politician by using epithets, …
“Heroes in the balcony” refers to a tradition started by President Ronald Reagan during his State of the Union addresses.
It involves inviting ordinary citizens …
An “elastic state” is one whose voting outcome in a presidential election is relatively sensitive or responsive to changes in political conditions, such as a …
The use of a “killer amendment” — sometimes called a “poison poll amendment” or “wrecking amendment” — is a legislative strategy of using an amendment …
A “front-porch campaign” is one in which the candidate stays close to home throughout the election race.
Instead of crisscrossing the country to woo voters, …
Talking points refer to the carefully crafted messages, statements, or ideas that politicians, political parties, or interest groups use to convey their opinions, policy positions, …
An exploratory committee is a preliminary organizational structure that potential candidates establish to assess the viability of their candidacy before officially entering the presidential race.…
An invisible primary begins when a candidate formally announces their plans to run for office.
It’s an opportunity to find out how much support they …
“Netroots” is grassroots political activism organized through blogs and other online social media.
Netroots activism emerged as a powerful force in U.S. politics during the …
“Bundling” refers to the practice of collecting contributions from multiple donors and submitting them to a political campaign or political action committee (PAC) as a …
A “straw donor” is an individual who illegally uses another person’s money to make a political contribution in their own name.
This practice is considered …
A “gaffe” is an unintentional comment that causes a politician embarrassment.
The term is often used to describe a inartful comment or a misstatement that
The “well” refers to the area at the front of the chamber where the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other leaders of the …
A “fusion ticket” is a strategy where two or more political parties endorse the same candidate for an elected office.
It’s sometimes referred …
A “cattle call” is a public event at which a big group of candidates for public office all speak.
The term comes from the acting …
A “sacred cow” is any program, policy, or person that is regarded as being beyond attack or untouchable.
The term references the status held by …
The “incumbent rule” is a rule of thumb used by pollsters that says incumbents rarely get a higher percentage in the election than they receive …
“Flake rate” is a calculation of people who sign up to volunteer for political canvassing or events but do not participate.
This term is largely …
A photo-op is short for a “photo opportunity,” an event specifically staged for television news cameras or photographers to increase a politician’s exposure.
A photo-op …
The “Election Administrator’s Prayer” is a phrase that is used to refer to the challenges and responsibilities faced by those who are responsible for administering …
The term “ballyhoo” refers to a type of political propaganda that is designed to create a public spectacle or spectacle and attract attention to a …
Franking privileges allow lawmakers to send mail to constituents without having to pay postage.
A copy of the member’s signature replaces the stamp …
The “Green Lantern Theory” is how political scientists describe the belief that presidents could do more if they just tried a bit harder.
The term …
A Boll weevil Democrat was a conservative southern Democrat in the mid 1900s, largely known for his opposition to civil rights.
They used …