Final answer:
Evaluating campaign literature involves understanding the strategies used to sell the candidate, the role of strategic appearances, and the practice of targeting supportive demographics. Campaign ads focus on issues and name recognition, often using creative means to appeal to voters and emphasize the importance of GOTV efforts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Strategies for Evaluating Campaign Literature
When evaluating campaign literature, it is crucial to understand the strategies campaign managers use to reach voters and the factors that typically influence voters' decisions. Campaign managers work to sell the candidate by controlling the candidate's image, message, and media coverage, packaging them akin to a product for the market. The success of John F. Kennedy's campaign, with his favourable family image, exemplifies the effectiveness of this approach.
Strategic expressive behavior is common, as candidates carefully choose their attire and public appearances to align with their messaging and appeal to voters' support. The focus on creating favourable media coverage has evolved that campaigns now offer limited material and crafted opportunities for photo shoots to maintain control over the candidate's public image.
Identifying supporters through polls and demographic research helps campaigns tailor their messages, concentrate resources effectively, and maintain a targeted approach. Campaigns tend to reinforce the support of known allies or sway undecided voters rather than converting opponents.
Moreover, campaign ads, especially in primary elections, emphasize issue positions and name recognition more than political party affiliation. Ads may employ various creative strategies, including endorsement by celebrities, as seen in Mike Huckabee's 'HuckChuck' ad, to increase name recognition and communicate issue positions. The goal of such ads is not just to sell the candidate but also to get out the vote (GOTV) by ensuring that supporters make it to the polls.