Campaigning

“The Great Mentioner” describes the phenomenon whereby certain people are “mentioned” to journalists as possible candidates for higher office.

It suggests that being mentioned or …

A barnstormer travels around the country or state making political appearances during a political campaign.

The events are typically set up by an advance man…

A “money blurt” is the strategy of using a politician’s controversial statements to attract a large number of campaign donors.

The Washington Post explains how …

A party convention in which delegates are able to vote for the candidate of their choice, and are not tied to the results of primaries …

“Astrotweeting” is the creation of fake Twitter profiles to show support for a political candidate.

Bill White described the practice in an Texas Monthly interview …

“Morning in America” is a phrase from a 1984 political ad for President Ronald Reagan’s re-election campaign to evoke a renewed American economic and social …

A brokered convention takes place when no one candidate wins a majority delegates during the presidential primary to earn their party’s nomination in …

GOTV is an acronym for “get out the vote” or increasing voter turnout in an election.

It involves various activities and initiatives to …

A Rose Garden campaign is when an incumbent president takes advantage of the power and prestige of his office to help him run for re-election.…

A “Sister Souljah moment” is a public repudiation of an extremist person or statement perceived to have some association with a politician or his party.…

A stump speech is a speech that a politician makes again and again as they travel to different places during a campaign.

The speech might …

An annual picnic in Fancy Farm, Kentucky that has come to represent the traditional starting point of the fall campaign season in Kentucky.

The gathering …

A “kangaroo ticket” is a ticket for higher office in which the person at the bottom of the ticket is considered more electable or is …

A “flip-flop” is a sudden reversal of opinion or policy by a politician, usually running for office.

The term is often used pejoratively to suggest …

“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 …

“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 “favorite son” candidate is one who draws their support from the home state or from the broader region. Sometimes the term is also used …

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, …

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, …

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 …

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 …

“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 …

The “advance man” is someone who makes arrangements and handles publicity for the candidate during a campaign.

The advance man travels to a location ahead …

A “carpetbagger” is a politician who runs for office or tries to appeal to a constituency in a geographic area where he or …

“Politics ain’t beanbag” Is an old-fashioned way of saying that politics can be rough.

People express roughly the same idea when they call politics “…

“Cutting turf” is plotting canvassing routes for campaign workers to knock on doors.

The term refers to the process of breaking up a …

A Shermanesque statement is a clear and direct statement by a potential political candidate indicating that he or she will not run for …

A “snollygoster” is a political operative or candidate who uses cunning or ethically questionable behavior to achieve power.

It’s similar to what we call a …

A “cookie-cutter campaigns” are political campaigns run by political consultants who use virtually identical strategies in different jurisdictions.

The typical sign of such campaigns are …

Fusion voting allows a candidate’s name to appear on multiple parties’ ballot lines, and to combine his or her votes from those lines.

Origin of

A “body man” is an assistant or valet who follows a political figure around the clock, providing logistical assistance for daily tasks ranging from paperwork …

“Fence mending” means making an effort to repair a political relationship after it has been damaged.

This practice is often engaged in by politicians who …

To be on the “bandwagon” is to follow a group that has a large and growing number of followers.

A bandwagon is literally a wagon …

The “coattail effect” is a phenomenon whereby a political candidate or leader’s popularity leads to improved vote totals for fellow party candidates further down the …

A glad-hander is a highly extroverted person who makes a point of acting friendly in an over-the-top way.

However, in politics the term glad-hander connotes …

The term “permanent campaign” was first coined by Sidney Blumenthal in his 1980 book, The Permanent Campaign.

The book explained how the breakdown in …

A “dark horse” is a candidate for office for whom little is known or for whom expectations are low, but who then goes on to …

A “smoke-filled room” is used to describe a situation where politicians or other powerful individuals gather in a private, enclosed space to make …