Modern Political Campaigns

Modern Political Campaigns brings together academic and practical considerations to help understand how professionalism, technology, and speed have revolutionized elections, creating more voter-centric races for public office. Cohen’s masterclass overview will appeal to students and political activists interested in working in political campaigns.

Michael D. Cohen

Contents Preface Introduction 1. Parties and Elections From Bosses to Consultants Voter Affiliation Parties As Campaign-Adjunct Organizations Democratizing the Vote Elections Rules Assignment Sources and Further Reading 2. Planning and Management Start with Why Can You Win? Do Campaigns Matter? Plan Design Consultant Story Assignment Sources and Further Reading 3. Fundraising Who Donates to Campaigns? Basic Rules High-Dollar Fundraising Low-Dollar Fundraising Online Platforms Assignment Sources and Further Reading 4. Independent Groups Loss of Control Change in Money Flow Types of Independent Groups Expansion of PACs Independent Expenditure Donations to Candidates Dark Money Consultant Story Assignment Sources and Further Reading 5. Vulnerability and Opposition Research Negative Information The Toughest Questions Opponent Framing Research Director Research Strategy Desktop Research Field Research Organization and Analysis Deployment Limits Consultant Story Assignment Sources and Further Reading 6. Data and Analytics The Voter File Identifying Winnable Voters Calculating Vote Totals Modeling Vote Totals Consultant Story Assignment Sources and Further Reading 7. Focus Groups and Polling Focus Groups Polling Tools Digital Research Assignment Sources and Further Reading 8. Earned Media Tools Consultant Story Assignment Sources and Further Reading 9. Paid Media Definition Consultant Story Assignment Sources and Further Reading 10. Social Media Definition Tools Consultant Story Assignment Sources and Further Reading 11. Field Operations Definition Tools Get Out the Vote Consultant Story Assignment Sources and Further Reading 12. Artificial Intelligence Definition Tools Ethical Considerations Consultant Story Assignment Sources and Further Reading 13. The New Permanent Campaign Campaign Strategy Gets Personal Voter Polarization Increases Tactics Go Digital The Parties Invest Campaigns Between Elections The Future of Modern Political Campaigns Sources and Further Reading Afterword Acknowledgements Appendix Index About the Author