Final answer:
The correct answer is a) Being new to politics. Incumbents have advantages such as name familiarity, franking privilege, and hometown projects. However, being new to politics is not an advantage for an incumbent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is a) Being new to politics.
An incumbent is a politician who is currently holding office. One of the advantages of being an incumbent is name familiarity. Incumbents have already built a reputation and established connections with the constituents, making them more recognizable and familiar to the voters.
Another advantage is franking privilege, which allows incumbents to send free mail to communicate with their district's voters. Hometown projects, which involve using resources to benefit the politician's local area, are also an advantage for incumbents.
However, being new to politics is not an advantage for an incumbent. Voters generally prefer candidates they are familiar with and who have already held the position, as they feel more confident in their abilities and track record.