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Political Consultants

Political Consultants. Ubiquitous. Era where a campaign involves a consortium of consultants --media, polling, fund-raising, strategizing, direct-mail, etc.

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Political Consultants

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  1. Political Consultants

  2. Ubiquitous • Era where a campaign involves a consortium of consultants --media, polling, fund-raising, strategizing, direct-mail, etc. • Drives up the $ costs - In 1976 average senate race 600,000 - now 4-5 million -- perhaps 50,000 consultants and staffers --In '86 Richard Wirthlin's polling firm took in some 10.4 Million - bigger than Gallup • Technology has taken politics out of back rooms and opened it to the masses (good), jacked up its costs (not good), and speeded its pace (good and bad). • Technology created the present political consulting industry -- with over 3000 firms and 7000 individual professionals. • Specialization, not only in areas of a campaign but in types of campaigns, Latino, foreign, blacks, women, state & local, etc.

  3. Media consultants, often get 15% on every television buy - increased competition reduces the rate • "Geodemographnic clustering:" - the use of computerized mailing lists keyed to zip codes, allowing targeting to narrow demographic groups. • Explosion in advertising linked to technologies allowing instant responses. As Sabato says, "It's like the arms race. You need this missile because the other guy has that missile." • Leads to confrontational advertising, more advertising in state & local races, earlier starts

  4. What Do Consultants think • How important do consultants thinks these are Highly Important or Somewhat important: : Ideology 79%; Electability, 65%; Candidate's Wealth, 27% • Is your win-loss ratio important: Yes 59%, No 41% • How involved should the candidate be in setting and executing strategy: very 39%; Somewhat 46%; Little or no involvement 15% • Do misrepresentations of abilities and unethical practices take place in the political consulting profession? Yes 88%; No 12% -- Source: National Journal, 1984 & 1986, Campaigns & Elections, 1986

  5. Political Consultants Survey - ‘98 • Survey of 200 top level consultants, Campaigns & Elections, Aug. 1998, Thurber & Strothers • Over 1/3 get involved for Thrill of Competition • Political beliefs and Money tie for reason to get involved at 26% each • Over 70% annual incomes over $100,000; 30% $200,000 • White (98%); male (82%); 94% college, 40% grad school; 75% under 50, 40% under 40 years old; extensive prior government/politics experience

  6. 2/3rds say voters are only “fair amount” or ill informed; 80% have trust in People to make choices • 48% rate congressional candidates as “only fair” or “poor”; 44% say they helped elect someone they were eventually sorry to see serve in office • When considering whether to take on a candidate or not, consultants place almost as much important on the candidate's ability to raise $, as political beliefs • Only 39% say ability to govern is very important • 68% rated journalist unfavorably (58% “fair”, 19% “Poor”) • 60% think public is bothered by negative campaigning; 53% by the amount of $ spent

  7. Does professionalization enhance politics at the expense of “democracy”?

  8. Where the $s Go Enlarge to see categories

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