Tag: campaigning

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…

“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 or large campaign events.

Using Google’s Ngram Viewer, there was an uptick in the term’s use in 1980 before a significant jump in the very tight 2000 presidential election.

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

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

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…

There’s one more reason to “suspend” a campaign: In theory, a suspended campaign could spring back to life if the political landscape changes dramatically.

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

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

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

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.

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

“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.

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.

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.

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

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 “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…

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

“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.

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

“Chum” is campaign gear such as bumper stickers, lawn signs, and campaign buttons.

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…

“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.

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.

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…

A “front-porch campaign” is one in which the candidate stays close to home throughout the election race.

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

An invisible primary begins when a candidate formally announces their plans to run for office.

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

“Flake rate” is a calculation of people who sign up to volunteer for political canvassing or events but do not participate.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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