A “snollygoster” is a political operative or candidate who uses cunning or ethically questionable behavior to achieve power.
The term snollygoster is traced back to 1846 by Merriam-Webster with a strong preference for the word among Southern politicians starting in …
A “carpetbagger” is a politician who runs for office or tries to appeal to a constituency in a geographic area where he or she has no roots or connection.
The term traces its roots back to the Civil …
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 websites or direct mail advertisements that use identical layouts and stock photographs.
The increased number …
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 of the candidate’s arrival and sets everything up so that things run smoothly for the …
In politics, fence mending means making an effort to repair a political relationship after it has been damaged.
The term was first used in 1879 by John Sherman. Sherman, the younger brother of the Civil War hero William Tecumseh …
In politics, a public event at which a big group of political candidates all speak.
The term comes from the acting world, where a “cattle call” is a massive audition to fill a part in a movie or play. Merriam …
“Cutting turf” is plotting canvassing routes for campaign workers to knock on doors.
The term refers to the process of breaking up a precinct map into smaller “turfs” that each contain a certain number of houses or voters.…
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 ballot.
A coattail refers to a part of the coat extending below the waist that …
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 which carries the band in a parade. The phrase “jump on the bandwagon” first appeared …
A Shermanesque statement is a clear and direct statement by a potential political candidate indicating that he or she will not run for a particular office.
The term is derived from a remark made by Gen. William Tecumseh …
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 was widespread in the 19th century, as Democrats benefited from fusion tickets with populist parties, …
A “body man” is an assistant who follows a political figure around the clock, providing logistical assistance for daily tasks ranging from paperwork to meals.
This is different than the advance man who typically prepares solely for campaign events.
The …
The term “permanent campaign” was first coined by Sidney Blumenthal in his 1980 book, The Permanent Campaign.
The book explained how the breakdown in political parties forced politicians to govern in different ways. Instead of relying on patronage and …
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 insincerity and opportunism.
Glad-handers are also referred to as back slappers and they’re really …
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 unexpectedly win or succeed.
While history is replete with examples of dark horse candidates who …
An informal meeting of local party members to discuss candidates and choose delegates to their party’s convention.
The term can also refer to informal groups of Members of the House of Representatives or the Senate used to discuss common issues …
In American politics, the term “mugwumps” was first used to describe those who left the Republican party in favor of the Democrats in 1884 to vote for Glover Cleveland instead of the GOP nominee James Blaine.
At a …
A “smoke-filled room” is used to describe a situation where politicians or other powerful individuals gather in a private, enclosed space to make important decisions or negotiations without public scrutiny.
The term originated in the early 20th century, …
An October surprise is a news event which takes place shortly before a closely-watched election and which may influence the election’s outcome.
Usually, the term in reference to a presidential election, although it can be applied to any election.
The …
“Whistle-stopping” is practice of making political speeches or appearances in many different towns during a short period of time.
The term originates from the time when politicians mainly traveled by train and gave speeches from the back of the train …
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 order to meet donors and raise money.
The term refers to the pre-cooked and often …
“Swiftboating” refers to the use of dishonest or misleading tactics to attack or smear the reputation or character of a political opponent.
The term comes from the 2004 presidential campaign, when a group called the Swift Boat Veterans …
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 chance of winning elections than a challenger does.
In presidential races, at least, the incumbent …
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, a handler can take care of the candidate’s basic needs, fetching cups of coffee or …
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. It means much the same thing as a soap box orator, who might be …
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 candidates likely to be approved of by different racial, regional, and religious groups.
The term …
The terms “battleground state” and “swing state” refer to states that have closely divided support for Democratic and Republican presidential candidates.
They are also sometimes called “purple states.”
Presidential campaigns are waged mainly in these battleground …
“Bed-wetting” refers to someone who expresses doubt or excessive worry about a political outcome.
David Plouffe, President Barack Obama’s former campaign manager and top political adviser, first coined the term in 2008 when Democrats began openly fretting about their political …
“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 talked about in a positive way can help a person or idea gain more attention …
A barnstormer travels around the country or state making political appearances during a political campaign.
The phrase was first used when pilots would travel around the country to entertain with their flying skills.
The appearances are typically set up by …
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 not a big difference and federal law does not define or officially recognize the act …
“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 in 2014 posted a two-and-a-half minute video of the senator campaigning set simply to music.…
A “wave election” is a term used to describe a significant electoral shift in which one political party makes substantial gains in seats in a legislative body, often resulting in a change of leadership.
The term “wave” 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 or caucuses.
Open conventions were the norm until about 1968. The Democratic Party’s delegates were …
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 it works:
…An up-and-coming politician blurts out something incendiary, provocative or otherwise controversial. The remark
A brokered convention takes place when no one candidate wins a majority delegates during the presidential primary to earn their party’s nomination in the first vote at the nominating conference.
When that happens, the nomination is “brokered,” or …
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.
The phrase originally referred to a president staying on the grounds of the White House …
“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 landscape.
The Reagan campaign sought to build on perceptions of economic progress during the 1984 …
GOTV is an acronym for “get out the vote” or increasing voter turnout in an election.
It involves various activities and initiatives to increase voter turnout, including voter registration drives, canvassing, phone banking, digital outreach, and providing logistical …
“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 about his 2010 race against Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R):
…There were also some silly
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.
It’s a strategy designed to signal to centrist voters to show that the politician 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 that the politician is being insincere or opportunistic, and that their change of stance is …
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 attracts statewide and occasionally national candidates and is held on the first Saturday in August.…
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 more well-known than the person at the top.
The Chicago Tribune defines the term as:…
“Triangulation” is when a political candidate presents his or her views as being above and between the left and right sides of the political spectrum.
It’s also sometimes called the “third way.”
This approach is often used by …
A stump speech is a speech that a politician makes again and again as they travel to different places during a campaign.
The expression dates back to early American history, when candidates would travel through the countryside building support …
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 for someone with little to no support outside of their own region.
In the past, …
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 also sometimes called palm cards because they’re designed to be small enough to fit in …
“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 using fish bait, also known as chum, to attract larger fish.
Similarly, in political campaigns, …
“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 the event.
The term “spin” itself refers to the deliberate manipulation of information or events …
“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 used by political operatives, nonprofit leaders, and other experts.
It’s presented as a percentage of …
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, rumors or mean-spirited innuendos or insults.
The term is often used interchangeably with the more …
An invisible primary is said to begin when a candidate formally announces their plans to run for office.
It comes to a close when the actual primary season begins.
The invisible primary is a testing-ground for candidates and their advance …
A front-porch campaign is one in which the candidate stays close to home throughout the campaign. Instead of crisscrossing the country to woo voters, the candidate connects with supporters locally (by making speeches from his front porch, for example).
The …
“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 “hardball” or “sharp-elbowed.”
The term originally comes from a 19th century novel…