campaign manager
Candidate's chief advisor
A campaign manager is the person who directs and coordinates a political candidate's election effort—overseeing strategy, staff, fundraising, advertising, and day-to-day operations.
The role requires balancing long-term planning with rapid crisis response: The campaign manager pulled the controversial ad within hours.
In smaller races, the campaign manager may handle most tasks personally; in major races, they supervise large teams.
Methods to achieve goals
- planningArranging for future events
- roadmapDetailed plan forward
- gameplanPredetermined course of action
- messagingSending written digital communications
targeting · opposition research · pivot · narrative · positioning · talking points · ground game · air war
Person seeking selection
- platformRaised flat structure
- votersThose who cast ballots
- pollsOpinion surveys or voting sites
- caucusParty selection meeting
primary · ballot · constituency · endorsement · rally · nominee · incumbent · challenger
One who leads
- chiefTop-ranking leader
- strategistExpert in planning campaigns
- advisorOne who gives guidance
- coordinatorOne who arranges activities
operative · consultant · spokesperson · handler · fixer · communications director · deputy · staffer
Coordination of complex activities
- schedulingAssigning times to events
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- mobilizationOrganizing for action
- deploymentOrganized distribution of resources
fundraising · budget · staffing · volunteer · field office · event planning · travel · phone banking
tactics
Methods to achieve goals
- planningArranging for future events
- roadmapDetailed plan forward
- gameplanPredetermined course of action
messaging · targeting · opposition research · pivot · narrative · positioning · talking points · ground game · air war · microtargeting
candidate
Person seeking selection
caucus · primary · ballot · constituency · endorsement · rally · nominee · incumbent · challenger · turnout
director
One who leads
- chiefTop-ranking leader
- strategistExpert in planning campaigns
- advisorOne who gives guidance
coordinator · operative · consultant · spokesperson · handler · fixer · communications director · deputy · staffer · aide
logistics
Coordination of complex activities
- schedulingAssigning times to events
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- mobilizationOrganizing for action
deployment · fundraising · budget · staffing · volunteer · field office · event planning · travel · phone banking · door-knocking
- political operativesstrategist, political consultant, political advisor, staffer, adviser
- campaigningcandidate, canvassing, fundraising, rallies, rally
- persuaderspersuader, orator, orators, public speaker, speechmaker
- marketersadvertiser, marketing director, marketing consultant, marketing analyst, marketing coordinator
- political advisorsadvisor, policy analyst, policy wonk, policy director, chief of staff
- political careerspolitical scientist, policy analyst, political consultant, political strategist, lobbyist
campaign managercandidate
Person seeking selection
nominee · campaign volunteer · voter · constituent · campaign donor
manage, campaign, manager, management, managed, managing, managers, mismanage, campaigns