Final answer:
The term "getting on the late train" refers to interest groups making contributions after an election to a candidate they initially did not support, as a means to establish a positive relationship with the winning candidate.
Step-by-step explanation:
An interest group gives contributions after the election to a winning candidate the group had earlier opposed. This is a strategy that interest groups or their political action committees (PACs) may employ to mend relationships with a candidate who has come out victorious in an election, despite the interest group's initial lack of support.
Interest groups engage in various activities to influence policy-making and legislation. They support candidates who are sympathetic to their causes, in the hope of gaining access and influence once those candidates are in office. The relationship between interest groups and candidates is often cemented by campaign contributions. Lobbyists and PACs play a vital role in this dynamic, as they collect and distribute funds to politicians while also providing valuable information and policy details to policymakers.
The connection between interest groups and political candidates underscores the importance of resources, but also highlights the political environment as a significant factor. Despite criticisms regarding the influence of economic resources on access, the political landscape can determine which groups are heard. Campaign contributions can be seen as part of the broader political participation by interest groups, which also includes advocacy work and sometimes directly opposes detrimental legislation. All these efforts culminate in the consistent attempt to shape public policy according to the group’s interests.