Campaigning

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

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 …

“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 …

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

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

The …

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 …

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.…

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 …

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, …

“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 …

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 …

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

They are …

“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 …

“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 …

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

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…

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 …

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 …

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 …

“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 …

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

“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 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 …

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.…

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 …

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 …

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

The speech might …

“Triangulation” is when a political candidate presents his or her views as being above and between the left and right sides of the …

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 …

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 …

“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 …

“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 …

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, …

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 “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, …

“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 “…

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

“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 …

“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 “cattle call” is a public event at which a big group of candidates for public office all speak.

The term comes from the acting …

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

The practice …

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 …

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

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 …

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 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 …