Eleanor Finch
The surfacing stage of a political campaign is a critical phase where a candidate emerges into the public eye and establishes their public identity. This stage involves a high level of planning and engagement activities, with candidates aiming to create a positive presence in the media and engage with voters. It is important for candidates to understand their goals, strategies, and tactics, as well as the political landscape and the community they aim to represent. The surfacing stage can make or break a campaign, as missteps made during this phase can tarnish a candidate's image and linger throughout the entire campaign.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Stages | 7 |
| First Step | Candidates emerge into the public consciousness and create a public identity |
| Importance | Critical stage of campaigning; missteps can tarnish a candidate's image |
| Timing | Ideally, occurs far before a campaign begins |
| Strategy | Formulate a strategy for how to approach the media |
| Rallies | Engage the electorate and force them to pay attention to the issue at hand |
| Candidate-Media Relationships | Determine how to include other stakeholders and advocacy groups |
| Candidate Learning | Learn about the candidate, develop voter expectations of the candidate's style |
| Campaign Issues | Determine main campaign issues |
| Intraparty Elections | Choose a single candidate from each party to run in the general election |
| Source of Feedback | Source of feedback for candidates and information for voters |
| Citizen Involvement | Citizens are involved in the political process |
| Campaign Promises | Candidates make promises in personalized settings |
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What You'll Learn
- Candidates should aim to create a positive presence in the media
- Rallies and campaign events are used to engage the electorate
- Candidates must learn about their community's political and non-political groups
- Candidates need to establish relationships with the media
- The surfacing stage is when a candidate emerges into the public consciousness
Candidates should aim to create a positive presence in the media
The surfacing stage of a political campaign is when a candidate emerges into the public consciousness and creates a public identity for themselves. This is a critical stage, as any mistakes at this juncture can tarnish the candidate's image and linger throughout the campaign. Ideally, surfacing would occur well before a campaign begins, allowing the candidate to occupy a strong and positive space in the community.
The "librarian as a candidate" approach can be effective in portraying the different roles that librarians and libraries play within communities. Informational campaigning is necessary to educate the public on the value of libraries and shift public perception. This can be done through creative campaigning events, such as having librarians campaign door-to-door, which helps impact how people view the roles of librarians in the community.
Additionally, candidates should aim to engage the electorate and force them to pay attention to the issue at hand. This can be achieved through rallies, campaign events, and the creation of Vote Yes committees. It is also essential to establish relationships with the media, as this is a key communicative function of the surfacing stage. Candidates should also be mindful of how to frame messages to activate desirable emotional associations and target generalities that will have emotional resonance.
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Rallies and campaign events are used to engage the electorate
Rallies and campaign events are an integral part of the surfacing stage in political campaigns. This stage involves a candidate emerging into the public consciousness and creating a public identity for themselves. Rallies and campaign events are used to engage the electorate and force them to pay attention to the issue at hand. They are a form of direct communication between the candidate and the voters, allowing the candidate to present their ideas and create a lasting impression. This can be achieved through various communicative strategies, including programmatic, clientelist, or personalist appeals.
Campaign events can take many forms, such as debates, speeches, or whistle-stop tours, where the candidate makes brief appearances in several small towns. These events are designed to attract media attention and raise funds, with campaigns often prioritizing spending in contested regions. Rallies, in particular, are significant sites of political communication, where multiple actors co-produce and counter-produce messages. They are produced according to a specific genre that guides their components and interpretation, emphasizing candidates, collectivities, and contests.
During rallies and campaign events, candidates make promises, field questions, and respond to requests from the audience to display their accessibility and connection to local issues. For example, Tanzanian President Magufuli would accept petitions from the crowd and take action live on stage, such as dismissing officials. These events also allow candidates to present themselves as strong defenders of community interests or conciliatory characters who can work across various divides.
The effectiveness of rallies and campaign events in influencing voters has been debated. While a 2016 study found that candidate visits had modest effects on voters, a 2017 paper on the 1948 presidential election provided evidence that visits could influence electoral returns. Additionally, campaigns should consider holding rallies in populous states to attract national press and raise funds, rather than focusing solely on visiting battleground states.
In conclusion, rallies and campaign events are essential tools for engaging the electorate during the surfacing stage of political campaigns. They provide an opportunity for candidates to connect with voters, showcase their ideas, and establish their public image. By utilizing these events effectively, candidates can increase their support and ultimately influence the decision-making process within a specific group.
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Candidates must learn about their community's political and non-political groups
The surfacing stage of a political campaign is when a candidate emerges into the public consciousness and creates a public identity for themselves. This is a critical stage, as any mistakes can tarnish the candidate's image and stay with them throughout the campaign. Ideally, surfacing would occur far before a campaign begins, allowing the candidate to occupy a strong and positive space in the community before discussing ballot issues.
For example, a candidate running for office in a community with a strong environmental advocacy group may want to emphasise their commitment to protecting the local environment. On the other hand, a candidate in a community with a powerful teachers' union may need to navigate the group's interests and priorities when developing their education policy.
In addition to understanding the community's groups and interests, candidates must also consider the evolving political landscape, including changing laws, rules, and calendars, as well as evolving issue priorities. This was evident in the 2016 US presidential campaign, where the rhetorical political landscape differed significantly from 2012, influencing the nomination campaigns of both parties.
Furthermore, candidates should not underestimate the power of unusual campaigning strategies to shift public perception. For example, having librarians campaign door-to-door can be an effective way to impact how people view the roles of librarians in the community while also allowing voters to learn about librarians as candidates. Similarly, rallies and campaign events can engage citizens and force them to pay attention to the issues at hand.
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Candidates need to establish relationships with the media
The surfacing stage of a political campaign is when a candidate emerges into the public consciousness and creates a public identity for themselves. This is a critical stage, as any mistakes at this juncture can tarnish a candidate's image, which may linger throughout the campaign. Ideally, surfacing would occur well before a campaign begins, allowing the candidate to occupy a strong and positive space in the community.
To establish a good relationship with the media, candidates should develop a media strategy that includes the following:
- Identify key media outlets and journalists: Knowing the media landscape and building relationships with influential journalists can help candidates get their message across effectively.
- Consistent messaging: Candidates should ensure that their message is clear, consistent, and tailored to the media outlet and its audience. This helps in reinforcing their public image and ensuring their message reaches the right people.
- Regular engagement: Holding regular press briefings, interviews, and events can help candidates maintain a presence in the news cycle and provide opportunities to address relevant issues.
- Transparency and accessibility: Being open and responsive to media inquiries, providing timely information, and making themselves available for interviews can help candidates build trust with the media.
- Utilise social media: Social media platforms offer candidates a direct line of communication with the public. By effectively using these platforms, candidates can shape their image and engage with voters, particularly younger audiences.
- Manage expectations: Candidates should be mindful of over-promising and under-delivering. They should set realistic expectations and communicate their goals and plans clearly to avoid negative media coverage.
By effectively managing their relationship with the media, candidates can shape public perception, gain support, and ultimately improve their chances of electoral success.
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The surfacing stage is when a candidate emerges into the public consciousness
The surfacing stage is a critical phase in any political campaign, as it marks the emergence of a candidate into the public eye and the formation of their public identity. This stage can be considered a precursor to the official campaign period, where candidates strive to establish themselves in the public consciousness and create a positive image that will benefit them during the campaign. The impact of the surfacing stage can be long-lasting, as any missteps or negative associations formed during this time may persist throughout the campaign and prove challenging to overcome.
During the surfacing stage, candidates actively engage in activities that increase their visibility and help voters learn about them. This includes participating in rallies, campaign events, and informational campaigns. The goal is to not only introduce the candidate but also to shape public perception and establish expectations of the candidate's style and the campaign's main issues. Candidates also focus on developing relationships with the media, as this plays a crucial role in reaching a wider audience and influencing public opinion.
In addition to individual candidates, the surfacing stage also involves evolving structures and issue priorities. It is a dynamic process that shapes the electoral landscape and influences nomination campaigns. This was particularly evident in the 2016 US presidential campaign, where the rhetorical political landscape differed significantly from that of 2012, impacting the strategies employed by both parties.
The surfacing stage is not just about the candidates but also about the roles they aim to represent. For example, in the context of libraries, the "librarian as a candidate" approach showcases the different roles that librarians and libraries play within their communities. This can involve creative campaigning strategies, such as having librarians campaign door-to-door, to shift public perception and highlight the value of libraries.
Overall, the surfacing stage is a crucial period in a political campaign, as it sets the foundation for a candidate's public image and their subsequent campaign strategy. It is a delicate and challenging phase, requiring careful planning and execution to ensure a positive and lasting impression on the electorate.
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Frequently asked questions
The surfacing stage is when a candidate emerges into the public consciousness and creates a public identity for themselves. This is a critical stage of campaigning as any mistakes can tarnish the candidate's image and stay with them throughout the campaign.
The surfacing stage is important for learning about the candidate, developing voter expectations of the candidate's style, determining the main campaign issues, and establishing candidate-media relationships. Rallies and campaign events are also a part of this stage, as they help engage the electorate and force them to pay attention to the issue at hand.
Firstly, it is important to identify your goals, strategy, and tactics in the context of the community's political and non-political groups. Secondly, understand your institution's incumbent record by examining past experiences. Finally, formulate a strategy for approaching the media, and begin to have a positive presence in the media.
