Elections and Campaigns

Party in the Electorate

• Cinematic Map of Party Strength 
• Polarization and Landslide Counties 
• Party Identification by State 
• National Party Identification: history & demographics 
• Latest Party Identification Data 

The Big Picture: Electoral Context

• Redistricting and Hall of Shame 
• Forecasting presidential elections -- 2012 
• Incumbency advantage 

Campaign Finance

• Financial incumbency advantage 
• The best explanation of campaign fundraising in the history of film:

The Ground War

• Lincoln's manual for community organizing
• Obama's commandments

1. You are an Organizer.
2. Things are always great. Be positive.
3. Think with your head: be driven by your heart.
4. People will come to the campaign for Barack. They stay because of you.
5. Empower yourself and others will be empowered.
6. Respect your community and your coworkers.
7. NEVER lie.
8. The phone is your greatest tool and your best friend.
9. If it is not written down, it does not exist.
10. Campaigns are won when goals are met.
11. Have goals. Be accountable. Make others accountable.
12. “Some” is not a number, “soon” is not a time. Only hard numbers count.
13. Keep it simple.
14. Listen actively.
15. Time is the most valuable resource you have. Don’t waste it.
16. Have a back-up plan for every situation.
17. Look and act professional. You are Barack’s surrogate in your community.
18. When you’re not working, remember that the other side is.

The Air War