Political leaders are the public face of a party during an election campaign. But what type of work is conducted behind the scenes by lesser-known party members attempting to propel their leaders to victory at the federal level in Canada?
Inside the Campaign is a behind-the-scenes look at the people involved in an election campaign and the work they do. Each chapter examines a key occupation. Authors reveal the duties and obstacles faced by those working together during the heat of a campaign to get their respective leaders elected, as well as those covering and organizing election-related events. Real-world insights are presented by professors with their practitioner co-authors who draw on recent campaign experiences. The contributors demystify over a dozen occupations, including election overseers, campaign chairs, platform designers, communication personnel, political staff, journalists, and pollsters. The caretaker convention, the efforts of Elections Canada, and strategies behind political fundraising are also examined, as are new trends in public opinion polling, advertising, and data analytics. A series of vignettes from the 2019 Canadian election document real-world challenges that practitioners had to confront in their roles.
Inside the Campaign is the first book to profile the work carried out behind the scenes during a Canadian election campaign. Ultimately, it provides an inside look at, and unparalleled understanding of, the nuts and bolts of running a federal campaign in Canada.