Describe the structures and functions of a contemporary political campaign organization.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary. To run a successful campaign, a candidate's campaign staff must be able to raise funds, get media coverage, produce and pay for political ads, and schedule the candidate's time effectively with constituent groups and potential supporters. The campaign must also publicize the candidate's position on the issues, conduct research on the opposing candidate, and persuade the voters to go to the polls. The role of the political party in managing campaigns has declined, although the party continues to play an important role in recruiting volunteers and getting out the vote. Professional political consultants now manage nearly all aspects of a presidential candidate's campaign. Most candidates for governor, the House, and the Senate also rely on consultants. Political consultants generally specialize in a particular area of the campaign, such as researching the opposition, conducting polls, developing the candidate's advertising, or organizing "get-out-the-vote" efforts. Nonetheless, most candidates have a campaign manager who coordinates and plans the campaign strategy. A major development in contemporary American politics is the focus on reaching voters through effective use of the media, particularly television. At least half of the budget for a major political campaign is consumed by television advertising. Media consultants are therefore pivotal members of the campaign staff.?Major campaigns, such as those for governor, senator, and U.S. president, typically make use of opposition research. A staff member-or even an entire team-spends time discovering as much negative information about opposing candidates as possible. Journalists often rely on opposition researchers for their stories.