The Scarlet Letter
Campaign Insider
Whither traditional PACs?
by Gary A. Feld / Sep 13 2012
By adding the word Super, removing contribution limits and opening up the donor pool to all-comers, political action committees have been revitalized. There are now over 800 Super PACs operating today.
This election cycle, these groups raised almost $350 million and spent more than $215 million—three-quarters of it supporting conservative candidates and causes. And all of those totals accumulated before the traditional start of the campaign season, which used to begin after
NGP VAN and Revolution Messaging partner
by Dave Nyczepir / Sep 12 2012
The mobile firm Revolution Messaging and Democratic technology provider NGP VAN are partnering to provide text-to-donate services and SMS tools to Democratic campaigns and organizations.
Initially, mobile fundraising will consist of web-friendly contribution forms, but the plan is to eventually allow client campaigns to receive contributions via text message. In the meantime, political committees can send rapid response, GOTV and mobilization texts to supporters on their cell phones.
“We’re still waiting
A window into the history of political marketing
by Shane D'Aprile / Sep 11 2012
For anyone even remotely interested in the business of politics, there’s more than enough in Sasha Issenberg’s new book, “The Victory Lab: The Secret Science of Winning Campaigns,” to keep you captivated.
Issenberg's book tells the story of the social science revolution in modern campaigns, and for students of the political consulting biz, the book offers a great history lesson on the development of the profession and the political marketing gurus who made
Measuring Obama's convention bounce
by Dave Nyczepir / Sep 11 2012
President Obama came out of the Democratic convention with a slight polling bounce, leaving the Romney campaign working to downplay any significance the numbers might hold.
Gallup’s tracking numbers showed Obama’s job approval jump to 52 percent after the Democratic convention. And the latest CNN/ORC poll gives Obama a six-point lead over Romney among likely voters—52 percent to 46 percent. In a CNN survey prior to the convention in Charlotte,
Theft under the guise of campaign donations
by Erik Nilsson / Sep 10 2012
It’s 2008 all over again.
Back in 2008, some ne'er-do-wells in Eastern Europe saw how much Barack Obama was fundraising online and thought, "Here is a great opportunity to make some easy illegal money." They created copies of the Obama donation pages and hosted them on vague web addresses.
Then they drove traffic to the sites. Unsuspecting political donors contributed to what they thought was Obama for President, and their swindlers
In speech, Obama asks voters to make 'harder' choice
by Shane D'Aprile & Dave Nyczepir / Sep 07 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — President Barack Obama accepted his party's nomination for a second term Thursday telling voters that November's election presents the country with "the clearest choice of any time in a generation."
Making his case for another four years, Obama acknowledged the country still has a long way to go in recovery and asked for more time to solve the nation’s fiscal problems. Turning to the Republican ticket, the president argued, would
Training group schools organizers on national security message
by Dave Nyczepir / Sep 06 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Truman National Security Project is using the Democratic National Convention as an opportunity to school progressive leaders and operatives on messaging foreign policy.
A training titled “Winning the Security Debate” was one of several events the group held this week. The training dispensed advice on selling progressive positions on hot-button defense issues to swing voters.
“We want to train progressives on how to talk about security issues that
In Charlotte, some Dems avoid the Super PAC embrace
by Shane D'Aprile / Sep 06 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Super PACs are spending much of the week in Charlotte courting major donors in town for the convention, but some prominent Democrats are struggling with the reality of embracing the outside influence so many within the party still hope to rein in.
“Unfortunately, they don’t have any choice” retiring Sen. Kent Conrad (N.D.) says of his party welcoming help from outside groups. “If you don’t play by these
How Obama can regain his convention magic
by Gary Genard / Sep 06 2012
Is Barack Obama rediscovering his speaking mojo? It’s a key question concerning how the president will fare in his convention acceptance speech Thursday night.
The presidency changes all occupants of the office—but President Obama in particular seemed to have lost some of his fire in the transition from the stump to the bully pulpit. His famous battles with Congressional Republicans were partly to blame. But his ability to project both leadership and vision—indeed,
In centrist appeal, Clinton extols Obama
by Shane D'Aprile & Dave Nyczepir / Sep 06 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Former President Bill Clinton launched an impassioned defense of President Obama’s first term on Wednesday in a nominating speech that was aimed squarely at independent voters.
The country is indeed “better off” thanks to Obama’s first term, Clinton argued in a lengthy yet rousing speech that showed why the former president is one of his party’s most effective messengers.
“No president, not me or any of my predecessors, could
Technology firms work convention crowd
by Shane D'Aprile / Sep 05 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Political technology companies are in abundance this week in Charlotte, working the Democratic convention crowd against the backdrop of one of the hottest debates in the campaign world—partisan or nonpartisan when it comes to political technology.
The Democratic software provider NGP VAN has members of its sales team on the ground at the DNC, interfacing with current clients and prospecting for new business. Along with Winning Connections, a Democratic
Sharp attacks frame day one in Charlotte
by Shane D'Aprile / Sep 05 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The first night of the Democratic National Convention was characterized by relentless attacks from a slew of prominent Democrats aimed at Republican nominee Mitt Romney. It came ahead of a speech from First Lady Michelle Obama, who capped the night with a more upbeat and personal appeal.
“Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter
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