Term

Definition

Category

Baby Kisser

Cynical name for a candidate who poses with a baby in order to attract the attention of the voters

Candidates

Baiting an Opponent

To say something to an opponent in order to make him or her angry so that they ‘explode’ and make a mistake

Campaign Trail

Bandwagon (Effect)

This term is based on the observation that people will do or believe something because many others are doing so. Similar to a ‘herd mentality’ or ‘following the crowd’, this term can be applied to elections in a case where voters end up supporting a candidate because of his or her popularity.

Campaign Trail

Barnstorm

Also called a ‘whistle-stop’.  It refers to the way in which candidates make very brief stops during their campaigns in the attempt to meet with as many people as possible.  ‘Barnstorming’ refers to the daredevil stunt of flying low over a barn.

Campaign Trail

Battle Ground States

Also called ‘swing states’ or ‘purple states’, are states where no candidate has overwhelming support or a definite chance of winning. Because of this, candidates campaign aggressively with the hope that they might get votes to ‘swing’ their way.

The following are a few states that have been identified as swing states in 2007: New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Nevada, Oregon and New Mexico.

Voters and Demographics

Beauty Contest

Refers to political events or races where candidates are less concerned with the real issues and more concerned with things such as looking or sounding good (a beauty contest).

Campaign Trail

Boll Weevil

An old term for a conservative southern state Democrat.  This is an insect known in the south for destroying cotton crops.

Candidates

Blue Dog Democrat

A conservative Democrat.  A term meant to contrast with a ‘yellow dog Democrat’ or a loyal Democrat

Candidates

Bunkum

Empty or insincere talk

Campaign Trail

Butterfly Ballot

Was a ballot used in the Gore vs. Bush, 2000 U.S. Presidential elections in the State of Florida. Many believe that the Butterfly design was confusing and led to many mistakes.

In 1992, Bill Clinton was considered a dark horse candidate among a large group of Democratic hopefuls.

Election Process

Chad

Pieces of paper which are created when holes are punched in paper.  See ‘swinging’, ‘hanging’ and ‘pregnant chad’.

Election Process

Coattails

Is when a candidate of a political party attracts support based on his connection to that party.

Ex: Congressional candidates often gain many seats in Congress by riding the ‘coattails’ of their party’s recent presidential success.

Campaign Trail

Dark Horses

Is one who succeeds in being elected after at first not being considered a likely winner. This term is used in many competitions, such as in sports.

Candidates

Front Runners

Is used to describe the leader of a political race.  This phrase is often used for the candidate with the lead in the opinion polls, the highest level of name recognition, or the most money raised.

Candidates

Gender Gap

Is a term referring inequalities between males and females and, in elections, they way each sex votes.

Voters and Demographics

George Allen and ‘Macaca’

In the 2006 U.S. Senate election in Virginia, former Senator George Allen used the word ‘Macaca’ while referring to an employee of his opponent, now Senator Jim Webb. The employee, S.R. Sidarth, of American Indian decent, was filming Allen’s campaign speech for an opposing web campaign.

The word ‘Macaca’ itself is a negative word which was used by French colonialists to refer to natives in the Central Africa’s Belgian Congo.

Senator George Allen later lost the campaign.

Campaign Trail

Gerrymander

To redraw voting districts in order to distribute voters in a candidate’s favor.  This term combines the name of an mid-1800’s Massachusetts Governor, Elbridge Gerry, and ‘salamander.’

Election Process

Go to the Hustings

Is a phrase used for meetings where more than one candidate participates. This could be a series of speeches, debates or question and answer sessions.

The term ‘Hustings’ was originally used to describe the platform from which candidates or politicians presented their views or cast votes.

Campaign Trail

Grassroots Movements

Are movements where decision-making processes occur at more local and community levels. These movements are often associated with a ‘bottom up approach’ rather than a top-down, centralized decision-making approach.

Campaign Trail

Hanging Chads

Is a name which is refers to the hanging pieces of paper on incompletely or partially punched ballot cards. A ‘Hanging Chad’ is attached to the ballot by only one corner.

Election Process

Lame Duck

Is an elected official who loses political power or is no longer active.  This is often the result of term limitations which prevent the official from running for office again

Candidates

Mudslinging

The act of criticizing opponents, or using information against opponents, in a rude or disrespectful way.

Campaign Trail

NASCAR Dad

Is frequently given to a broad demographic group of mostly white, middle-aged, working class men. Typically this group enjoys NASCAR racing, American football or professional wrestling.  They often vote Republican.

Voters and Demographics

The New Deal

Was a title President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave to a group of programs and promises from 1933 to 1938. The goal of the New Deal to help rebuild the suffering U.S. economy after the Great Depression in 1928. The term ‘New Deal’ was often used during FDR’s campaigning as a catchy slogan of what his Presidency would bring.

Campaign Trail

Pregnant Chad

Chads that are still attached at all corners but are curved inward, giving the impression that the voter may have intended to mark that space.  Same as ‘dimpled chad’.

Election Process

Purple States

States with large Republican votes are often called ‘red states, and those with large Democrat votes, ‘blue states’.  Those that are somewhere in-between are often called ‘purple states’. Also see “Battle Ground States”.

Voters and Demographics

Push Polling

To poll – or ask voters questions – that is done not for the purpose of gathering information but to influence their opinion.

Campaign Trail

Reagan Democrat

A Democrat who voted for the Republican candidate Ronald Reagan; a conservative Democrat

Voters and Demographics

The Rubber Chicken Circuit

Is a phrase that refers to fund-raising dinners and events that are attended by politicians hoping to gain political and financial support. The term ‘Rubber Chicken’ refers to the poor quality of the food at such events.

Campaign Trail

Running Mate

Is the vice presidential candidate. 

Candidates

Slam Dunk Election

Is when a candidate is nearly guaranteed an easy victory.

Election Process

Soccer Mom

Is often used to describe a broad demographic group of middle or upper-middle class women with school-aged children. Soccer Moms are often seen driving mini-vans and attending their children’s soccer or little league baseball games on Saturdays. The soccer mom electorate base is often the target of both Republicans and Democrats.

Voters and Demographics

Sound Bite

A set phrase or slogan that a candidate repeats.

Campaign Trail

Spin Doctors

Is someone who twists or ‘spins’ the meaning of an issue in order to win the approval of a group of voters.  Many people think politicians are often accused by their rivals of using ‘spin’ to their advantage. Because of this, press conferences are often referred to as ‘spin rooms’.

Candidates

Split Ticket

To vote for who the voter perceives as the best candidate, regardless of party; opposite of ‘straight ticket.’

Voter and Demographics

Stump Speech

When a well-known person delivers a speech for of a candidate they support. An example could be the President Clinton giving a speech for the Democratic candidate.

Campaign Trail

Swinging Chad

Similar to ‘Hanging Chads’, these chads are instead attached by two corners.

Election Process

Swing States

See Battle Ground States

Geography

Swing Voters

Is a term applied to a voter who does not feel part of one particular party. He or she could also be called an ‘independent’ or a ‘floating voter’. This group is actively targeted by both Republican and Democrats. The term comes from the fact that these voters could ‘swing’ either way (right or left, Republican or Democrat).

Voters and Demographics

‘Tippecanoe and Tyler too’

Was a famous campaign song used in the 1840 U.S. Presidential election campaign by former President William Henry Harrison. The popular song played an enormous role in Harrison’s success and it is often said that it “sang him into the Presidency”. In the song ‘Tippecanoe’ was Harrison and ‘Tyler’ was his running mate, former President and Vice President John Tyler.

Campaign Trail

Ticket Splitters

Are voters who vote for candidates from more than one political party. They often vote on the basis of individual personality or records rather than connection to a particular party. 

Voters and Demographics

Winner Take All

An expression that describes the electoral college in 48 of the 50 states.  The candidate who gets a majority of the votes gets all of the electoral votes.  Maine and Nebraska are the only two states who divide their electoral vote.

Election Process

Wedge issues

Are controversial political or social issues which are used by political groups to split or create ‘wedges’ in the opposition’s support base. In the U.S., such issues include abortion or gay rights, taxes, gun control, national security, and immigration.

Campaign Trail

Yellow Dog Democrat

A loyal Democrat

Candidates