A political campaign is an organized effort to promote and support a specific candidate or ballot initiative in an election. There are a variety of ways to get involved in a political campaign, from volunteer opportunities to full-time staff positions. Political campaigns are regulated to ensure that they are fair and open, with limited expenditures allowed.
Staffers on a political campaign can expect to work long hours, often evenings and weekends, while performing tasks that may not be very interesting or fulfilling. The rigors of the job can be mentally and physically draining, especially for those who do field work (e.g., making calls and going door to door).
There are thousands of political campaigns each year across the country. These range from small local operations run by two or three paid staffers to large, federal operations involving hundreds of volunteers and paid staffers. Political campaigns are typically held every two years (a campaign cycle).
The goal of a political campaign is to get a certain candidate elected to a specific office, whether a US Representative, US Senator, Governor, state Attorney General, or mayor, or to pass a particular piece of legislation or ballot initiative. These goals are achieved through a combination of strategic messaging and direct voter contact. A successful strategy depends on a clear message that resonates with voters. For example, John McCain’s “Country First” campaign message was not as successful as Barack Obama’s consistent and simple message of change.