Campaigns Archives

News in Brief

How Political Consultants Took a Texas Oilman on a Wild Ride

The head of a Texas oil dynasty joined the parade of wealthy political donors, aiming to flip the Senate to Republicans. By the time consultants were done with him, the war chest was drained and fraud allegations were flying.

Robert Faturechi

News in Brief

The Kids Are All Right (at Least When It Comes to Politics)

Young Americans aren't as disengaged as you might think.

Seth Masket

News in Brief

In Praise of Canvassers

It is still, by far, the most reliable campaign method of actually getting someone to turn out to vote.

Seth Masket

News in Brief

The Bankruptcy of Authenticity

Every presidential candidate is essentially playing some sort of role. That doesn't mean that they're lying.

Seth Masket

News in Brief

The Case for a National Primary

With the way things are currently structured, most voters don’t participate in choosing the candidates that ultimately go on to represent them. But there’s a relatively easy fix.

Shanna Pearson-Merkowitz

News in Brief

Why Make Stuff Up? The Incredible Demand on Campaign Reporters to Keep Things Interesting

Will the recent incorporation of some working political scientists into legacy media outlets help curb the use of misleading headlines and made-up stories of momentum in campaign coverage?

Seth Masket

Social Justice

Obama’s Not-So-Big Data

After the last presidential election, wide-eyed pundits hailed a brave new era of political campaigning, crediting Obama's victory to his team's wizardry with data. The hype was premature. Here's what the story of 2012 really means for the future of politics.

John Sides & Lynn Vavreck

News in Brief

I Am Luscious, and Other Campaign Slogans

Politicians are all about self-promotion and self-awareness. With a little help from the naming conventions of a vegan menu, could these attributes be used to better inform voters?

Jessica A. Levinson