fandomhigh | American Political Campaigning [Wednesday, October 4, 1st period]

Josh stopped watching the latest episode of The Daily Show on his laptop when the campaigning class walked into the classroom.

"Today we talk about targeting and research," he said. "As the dancing cartoons on Schoolhouse Rock used to say, 'knowledge is power', and this is never more true than in politics." He raised an eyebrow. "Schoolhouse Rock is awesome, and I refuse to hear anyone who says otherwise." He snapped his finger. "Eric, how many days until the election?"

He walked to the board. "Anyway. There are a few eternal truisms in campaigning," he began, ticking them off on his fingers, "If it's not on paper, it doesn't exist. There's no way to get more time. You only need 50 percent plus one vote to win. Josh Lyman is always right." He grinned at that last one. "Checking to see if you were paying attention."

"Control of information is absolutely critical for your campaign strategy. If you don't do enough research or on the right subjects, you're pretty much screwed. If you are directing your information at the wrong people, you lose. Find out who your people are, what they care about, where they live, and then get their asses to the polls." Josh shrugged. "This isn't rocket science. But for it to work, you need to do research. Research covers a lot of ground: polling, opposition research, issues research, media market research, election results for the last billion years, all of it."

He started writing on the board. "There are a few things to remember when putting together a research plan. First of all, your opponent will know everything there is to know about your record, and will attack any and all weaknesses. They will also--and this is important--attack your strengths and try to turn them into weaknesses. Therefore, you must also know everything there is to know about their record and be prepared to do the same thing, including attacking their strengths and turning them into weaknesses. Your ultimate goal is to have enough research, both on you and your opponent, that is comfortable and politically powerful for your guy while leaving the other guy uncomfortable and scrambling."

Josh sat down at his desk and took a sip of coffee. "Okay. For your pros, say you are a 5-term incumbent who is the chairman of, say, an Appropriations subcommittee. You've shuffled an awful lot of money back home. You've been representing your people for a decade and you've made a couple of votes where you've broken party lines to defend what your constituents believe about, oh, let's say the inheritance tax and torturing prisoners. For your cons, you're a Republican linked to a President whose approval ratings are made up of his immediate family."

He smiled. "How would you maximize your assets and minimize your weaknesses?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...

Isabel Evans

Marty Blank

Eric Weiss.

Pass notes, pass out...whatever.

Eric responds to the quick on-the-spot... "34?"

"Perfect," Josh said with a pleased smile.

"Dude. I totally win."

What if you were a Congressman running for re-election this campaign cycle?

"First I'd start of by scrubbing my website of any pictures of me with the president. And given the current situation? I might even minimize use of the term Republican," Isabel said with a smirk.

Josh smiled. "What if your yardsigns have already been printed up?"

"If I could get the cash? Reprints. Also, it would probably be time to start singing about how I'm different. Not just from my Democratic opponent, but from all the rest of the corrupt Republicans. And then hope my connections to that lobbyist don't come out."

"Murphy's Law always applies to campaigns. Let's assume that the lobbyist connections would come out--probably with two weeks to go in the campaign."

"Well depending on exactly what's revealed? I'd pay back any money involved and plead stupid. And perhaps cry a bit. With Billy Graham at my side if I could swing it." Sometimes Isabel scared herself with how cynical she was getting.

"Barbara Walters is a good call, too, if it turns into a national problem," Josh advised.

"Hm. Definitely minimize the Republican thing. Nobody cares about inheritance tax and torture is disturbing." Weiss snapped his fingers. "I have a proven record of supporting the bereaved in their time of need and I am strong proponent of the basic human rights upon which this country was founded. Also, I might go on the Daily Show. You play ball with Stewart and he'll make you look really good. Might wash off some of that Bush-y mud."

Josh grinned. "Excellent."

"First? Make a ton of deals with middle of the road republicans and democrats and get tons of pictures with them. Of course you do background checks with them first so you don't end up standing next to a guy who's secretly in a drag show every other week. Then throw out a ton of media saying keywords like "Middle of the Road" "Team Player" and talk about all the pork you've had added to various bills that brought money and jobs to your district."

"Then? You form a PAC that you technically don't endorse and kill the opponent's character."

"The drag show this is definitely something to look into," Josh said, nodding. "And pictures with tiny non-screaming children is always good, too."

Yay, OOC!

American Political Campaigning [Wednesday, October 4, 1st period]

Sign in [Oct 4, AJC]

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During the lecture

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Answer the discussion question

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Talk to Josh

OOC