Dark Horse
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 “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 …
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 …
“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 …
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.…
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 …
A “wave election” is a term used to describe a significant electoral shift in which one political party makes substantial gains in seats …
“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 …
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 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 …
“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 …
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.…
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 stump speech is a speech that a politician makes again and again as they travel to different places during a campaign.
The speech might …
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 “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 …
“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 …
“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 …
“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 …
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, …
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 “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, …
“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 …
“Cutting turf” is plotting canvassing routes for campaign workers to knock on doors.
The term refers to the process of breaking up a …
“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 …
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 …
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 …
Fusion voting allows a candidate’s name to appear on multiple parties’ ballot lines, and to combine his or her votes from those lines.
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 …
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 …
“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 …
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 …