A political campaign is a comprehensive strategy to reach, communicate with and persuade voters in support of a candidate or a cause. The goal is to win a specific election, whether it’s for the presidency, a congressional seat or local office. The work is often demanding and the hours are long, especially in high-profile races that garner the most media attention.
The most effective campaigns are centered on a coherent and consistent message, which is deployed across all platforms of campaign distribution. This message usually includes several policy “talking points” that summarize the main ideas behind the campaign. The goal is to convince voters that the politician shares their beliefs and values. The message is also aimed at deflecting attacks by the opposition party, who often try to get the candidate “off message” on issues or personal matters.
Campaigns typically hire a handful of paid staff members to handle project management, fundraising, volunteer recruitment and engagement, and data analytics. Depending on the size of a campaign, this group may be led by a campaign manager or general consultant, a finance director or call time manager, and an organizing director or volunteer coordinator.
It’s important to keep in mind that most positions on a political campaign are partisan, and it is generally necessary to affiliate with a particular party when applying for these jobs. Partisan affiliation can carry reputational costs later in one’s career if you decide to change parties, so it is best to decide early which path is right for you.
About the Author
