Campaigns & Elections articles from October 2003

Campaigns & Elections archives from October 2003

Bush's problem: what's missing?(On the Record)
October 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] President George W. Bush's political fortunes have declined considerably in the last few months. His slide is evident not just in job approval ratings and trial heats against Democrats but in the way American voters...

Inside Politics: wanted: Young Voters.(News Feed)
October 1, 2003... The traditional campaign tactic of phone banking is the key to reaching the largely elusive 18- to 24-year-old demographic to attract voters, says a new study from a group dedicated to increasing political and civic participation among young...

Inside Politics: book primary.(News Feed)
October 1, 2003... It's easy to understand why presidential candidates John Edwards, John Kerry, Howard Dean, Wesley Clark and Dennis Kucinich would want to have books about themselves out in the months ahead. What's less obvious to grasp is why publishers took...

2004 presidential candidate books.(News Feed)
October 1, 2003... * Edwards, John, "Four Trials," Simon & Schuster, January 2004. * Kerry, John, "A Call to Service," Viking, October 2003. * Brinkley, Douglas, "Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War," William Morrow, January 2004. *...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2003... An interview with Bob Garfield in the August 2003 edition of Campaigns & Elections quoted him saying, erroneously, that North Woods Advertising worked for Russ Feingold (D) of Wisconsin in his successful 1992 Senate campaign. The consultting...

Trading candidate shares: sucker's bet or wise investment?
October 1, 2003... When a Pentagon agency proposed a futures market to help forecast political events in the Middle East, it quickly died amid criticism that the program would allow bettors to capitalize from predicted terrorist attacks. Largely lost amid...

New jobs.(People & Organizations)
October 1, 2003... NEW JOBS: Gary Reed was hired as a copywriter for Steve Brown Direct Mail, a Tallahassee, Fla.-based firm that specializes in fund raising packages for Republican state parties, federal and statewide candidates. Reed is formerly a staff member...

Party lines.(People & Organizations)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... PARTY LINES: Virginia Republicans elected Kate Obenshain Griffin as party chairwoman. She fills the unexpired term of Gary R. Thomson, which lasts until summer 2004. He resigned after pleading guilty in federal court to a misdemeanor of "aiding...

Firm changes.(People & Organizations)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... FIRM CHANGES: Global Strategy Group LLP merged with the Washington-based public opinion polling firm Hickman Research Inc. The new firm will retain the name Global Strategy Group and will advise political candidates, governmental entities and...

Campaign movements.(People & Organizations)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... CAMPAIGN MOVEMENTS: Veteran Republican communications aide Terry Holt was tapped to be the press secretary for the Bush/Cheney 2004 campaign. Holt was a spokesman for former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), U.S. Rep. John Boehner of...

Campaign consultant/client sign-ups.
October 1, 2003... American Fundraising Group/D - fund raising Allyson Schwartz, PA, H13 '04 Arthur Finkelstein & Associates/R - polling Bill McCollum, FL, Sen. '04 Jim Snyder, NC, H05 '04 Bennett Petts & Blumenthal/D - polling Blair...

2004 Democratic presidential primary calendar.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... JANUARY 2004 13 District of Columbia 19 Iowa 27 New Hampshire FEBRUARY 2004 3 Arizona Delaware Missouri North Dakota Oklahoma South Carolina 7 Michigan 8 ...

Play political trivia.
October 1, 2003... Answers available online at www.campaignline.com Click "Political Trivia" 1. Who was the last third party candidate to receive an electoral vote? a) John Hospers, Libertarian b) George Wallace, American Independent c) Ross...

Political calendar.(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... OCTOBER 2003 2-4 * Democratic National Committee fall meeting, Washington, D.C. 4 * Louisiana state primary * Delaware Federation of Republican Women annual meeting, Dover 10 * Ohio Federation of Republican Women...

Scott Garrett: Member of Congress, New Jersey 5, Republican.(Career Paths: How They Got Where They Are)
October 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The third time was a charm for Scott Garrett, who unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Rep. Marge Roukema for the Republican nomination in 1998 and 2000. The 11-term Congresswoman retired in 2002, and Garrett won the...

Raul Grijalva: Member of Congress, Arizona 7, Democrat.(Career Paths: How They Got Where They Are)
October 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Grijalva ran for Congress in 2002 as the latest step in a political career in the Tucson community, which began in 1974. He served on the Pima County Board of Supervisors and the Tucson Unified School District...

A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republican, by John Ferling.(Political Books: Ron's Picks)(Book Review)(Brief Review)
October 1, 2003... A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republican, by John Ferling, Oxford University Press, 558 pages. Explores the personalities, challenges, political battles and leadership triumphs of America's founders, from Samuel...

Electoral Democracy, edited by Michael B. MacKuen and George Rabinowitz.(Political Books: Ron's Picks)(Book Review)(Brief Review)
October 1, 2003... Electoral Democracy, edited by Michael B. MacKuen and George Rabinowitz, University of Michigan Press, 351 pages. Presents a series of essays on democracy, covering topics from belief systems, party identification, cognitive models of...

Rethinking the Vote: The Politics and Prospects of American Electoral Reform, edited by Ann B. Crigler, Marion R. Just and Edward J. McCaffery.(Political Books: Ron's Picks)(Book Review)(Brief Review)
October 1, 2003... Rethinking the Vote: The Politics and Prospects of American Electoral Reform, edited by Ann B. Crigler, Marion R. Just and Edward J. McCaffery, Oxford University Press, 265 pages. Looks at how to maintain a perception of fairness and equal...

George W. Bush: On War, Terrorism and Freedom.(Political Books: Ron's Picks)(Book Review)(Brief Review)
October 1, 2003... George W. Bush: On War, Terrorism and Freedom, selected by National Review, Continuum, 265 pages. Collects a series of speeches and excerpts delivered by President Bush on the international threat of terrorism and the American response....

Peter Valcarce.(Movers & Shakers)
October 1, 2003... President and co-founder of Arena Communications, a Salt Lake City-based Republican direct mail firm. Career Background Special assistant to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah); research associate at the Wirthlin Group; raised funds, conmsulted...

Hans Riemer.(Movers & Shakers)
October 1, 2003... Washington, D.C., director/political and issues director, Rock the Vote Career Background Senior policy analyst and director, Social Security Information Project, Campaign for America's Future, 2001 to 2003; founder and director, 2030...

Grandma mayor: how an underdog came from behind to defeat a favorite.(Case Study)
October 1, 2003... Introduction "Forget it. The race is over. You gotta position yourself to avoid blame." That was the advice we heard most often on April 9, 2003, the morning after the Lincoln, Neb., mayoral primary election. Our candidate, Coleen...

Baseball, apple pie and English: lessons from a losing campaign against an "English only" ballot measure.(Case Study)
October 1, 2003... Introduction In 1998 Ron Unz, a California millionaire, began what would become a national campaign to end bilingual education. That year, he would place a question on the ballot in California to eliminate bilingual education and replace...

Using speeches to gain voters' trust: why what you say is not always as important as how you say it.(Political Adviser)(Cover Story)
October 1, 2003... Every voter looks for a candidate in whom he or she can believe. And candidates can win voters' trust in many ways, some of which have more to do with whom the voter is than the candidate. One principle always holds true, however, and that...

Do political image makers need a makeover? Assessing public attitudes toward political consultants.(Political Adviser)
October 1, 2003... We know what Americans think about political campaigns. Decades of public opinion research consistently confirm voters' distaste for electoral politics. According to survey data compiled by the Center for Congressional and Presidential...

Kansas, the three-party state: moderate and conservative Republicans compete on the legislative battlefield.(Political Professional)
October 1, 2003... "People to my left need a little work. People to my right are crazy." --Bob Tomlinson, assistant insurance commissioner of Kansas and a moderate Republican At first glance, Kansas would appear to be one of the safest states for...

Cambodia deserves a bright future: but how will it get there?(Political Professional)
October 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On July 27, Cambodians went to the polls to choose a new parliament for the third time since 1993. With each election, the Cambodian people inch closer toward a future where they can freely engage in political...

Mid-Atlantic Chapter holds annual elections in NYC in conjunction with screening of presidential ads.(AAPC News)
October 1, 2003... The Mid-Atlantic Chapter held a spectacular event in September in New York City. Members attended a special screening at the Museum of Television and Radio and watched "Madison Avenue Goes To Washington: The History of Presidential Campaign...

'04 Democratic presidential Web sites.(Clicks & Picks)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Internet has already played a major role in the 2004 presidential campaign. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean used the Web to build a groundswell of support for his bid to be the Democratic nominee. Thanks in large part to that, he's now...

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's Web site lends well to his campaign's grass-roots style.(Clicks & Picks)
October 1, 2003... www.deanforamerica.com Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's Web site lends well to his campaign's grass-roots style. A relatively low-tech front page provides information about how to get involved in the Dean campaign. Although the front page...

Image plays an important role in the presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. John Kerry (Mass.).(Clicks & Picks)
October 1, 2003... www.johnkerry.com Image plays an important role in the presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. John Kerry (Mass.); the Vietnam veteran announced his candidacy in front of an aircraft career to underscore his military credentials. This...

Music seems to be a strong facet of U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman's (Conn.) campaign site.(Clicks & Picks)
October 1, 2003... www.joe2004.com Music seems to be a strong facet of U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman's (Conn.) campaign site. The campaign diary section has numerous references to music and pictures of a state senator playing the piano, while Lieberman sings...

Aside from the typical elements of a campaign Web site, U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt (Mo.) added a link to a new site criticizing President George W. Bush, called www.amiserablefailure.com.(Clicks & Picks)
October 1, 2003... www.dickgephardt2004.com Aside from the typical elements of a campaign Web site, U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt (Mo.) added a link to a new site criticizing President George W. Bush, called www.amiserablefailure.com. It is part of the efforts of...

U.S. Sen. John Edward's (N.C.) populist image is central to his campaign and Web site.(Clicks & Picks)
October 1, 2003... www.johnedwards2004.com U.S. Sen. John Edward's (N.C.) populist image is central to his campaign and Web site. A rotating image and quote at the top of the site features an Edwards supporter, usually an ordinary citizen. Supporters can...

In case anyone following the presidential race forgot, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich reminds them multiple times that he is the "progressive choice.(Clicks & Picks)
October 1, 2003... www.kucinich.us In case anyone following the presidential race forgot, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich reminds them multiple times that he is the "progressive choice." The Ohio congressman plays up the rock-star angle like Kerry does, by touting...

Al Sharpton strays from the norm in the colors of his Web site.(Clicks & Picks)
October 1, 2003... www.al2004.org Al Sharpton strays from the norm in the colors of his Web site. Rather than opt for the traditional red, white and blue, he goes with maroon. Aside from that, the site is similar but less complete than those of the...

The only female in the race, former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun gained the obvious endorsements from the National Organization for Women and the National Women's Political Caucus.(Clicks & Picks)
October 1, 2003... www.moseley-braun.org The only female in the race, former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun gained the obvious endorsements from the National Organization for Women and the National Women's Political Caucus. And these endorsements are key...

U.S. Sen. Bob Graham (Fla.) says he is "working for America," a slogan made clear by the banner at the top of his site.(Clicks & Picks)
October 1, 2003... www.grahamforpresident.com U.S. Sen. Bob Graham (Fla.) says he is "working for America," a slogan made clear by the banner at the top of his site. The Graham campaign is continuing a program called "workdays," which Graham began in...

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark had his campaign Web site up within hours of announcing his candidacy.(Clicks & Picks)
October 1, 2003... www.clark04.com Retired Gen. Wesley Clark had his campaign Web site up within hours of announcing his candidacy. The initial site was bare bones, but Clark built it up to include all the necessary information. The site has a business-like...

Persuasion too?(The Online Campaigner)
October 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An important new study by two political scientists, Bruce Bimber of University of California at Santa Barbara and Richard Davis of Brigham Young, confirms what has been an established principle among political...

Political Internet Services.(Where to Find it, Where to Buy it)
October 1, 2003... All information was provided by the companies listed. They are responsible for its accuracy and completeness. For updates, see the Campaigns & Elections Web site at www.campaignline.com. Organized by major office location. AMERICANA MEDIA...

Internet Campaigning: consultant and expert Q & A.(Strategy & Tactics)
October 1, 2003... C & E: For a campaign running low on funds that cannot afford to run television ads, can a good Web presence help to spread candidates' name recognition? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Need help developing your campaign plan?(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Most candidates and campaign managers do. To put together a winning campaign plan, you need a firm grasp of political strategy and message, a broad knowledge of the tactical options and a deep understanding of what will work, and what...

Is your candidate ready to debate the opposition?(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The truth is, most candidates and issue spokespersons aren't. People running for office or advocating an issue need to know the strategic implications of debate formats and rules before they go into combat. They need to understand the...

Fighting attack ads, consultant liability on campaigns: how to manage subordinates working on a campaign.(Campaign Doctor)
October 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Every time we announce an accomplishment or new program, no one shows up or the story is buried. What do you suggest? Our opponents get much bigger stories when they attack our record. Negative attacks generate...

Off the record.
October 1, 2003... "Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said that people who criticize the president are encouraging our enemies and preventing us from winning. That's what Rumsfeld said; people shouldn't criticize the government. Or was it Saddam who said that?...