Campaigning

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

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

“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 “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

“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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

“Whistle-stopping” is practice of making political speeches or appearances in many different towns during a short period of time.

The practice has lost some of …

A caucus is an informal meeting of local party members to discuss candidates and choose delegates to their party’s convention.

It can also refer to …

In American politics, the term “mugwumps” was first used to describe those who left the Republican party in favor of the Democrats in …

A “rubber chicken circuit” is the nickname given to the endless parade of dinners that political candidates must attend during a campaign for office in …

“Swiftboating” refers to the use of dishonest or misleading tactics to attack or smear the reputation or character of a political opponent.

The …

An October surprise is a news event which takes place shortly before a closely-watched election and which may influence the election’s outcome.…

In politics, a handler manages a candidate during an election. 

A handler can fill a variety of roles. At the lowest end of the spectrum, …

An incumbent is an official who already holds a political office.

A lot of ink has been spilled about whether the incumbent has a better …

An individual with strong political opinions who does not hesitate to express them.

Typically, a park bench orator speaks out about their views in public.…

A balanced ticket is a paring of political party candidates designed to appeal to a broad swathe of the electorate. A balanced ticket normally includes …

“Retail politics” refers to a style of political campaigning where candidates focus on direct, personal engagement with individual voters rather than relying on mass media …

The terms “battleground state” and “swing state” refer to states that have closely divided support for Democratic and Republican presidential candidates.

They are …

“McConnelling” is the practice of setting music to awkward, B-roll footage of a politician.

The term was coined after Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) re-election campaign …

“Bed-wetting” refers to someone who expresses doubt or excessive worry about a political outcome.

The term “bed-wetting” in politics has roots in psychological analogies.

Much …

A “wave election” is a term used to describe a significant electoral shift in which one political party makes substantial gains in seats …

When it’s time to leave a race for public office, candidates often announce their “suspended campaign” instead of actually dropping out.

Practically speaking, there is …

“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 …

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.…

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

It involves various activities and initiatives to …