This is worth perusing. Its a look at electoral strategy, as well as the influence that funders can have on presidential candidates.
- Click here for the article.
- A related story in CNN.
Some of Senator Cruz's supporters are advising he focus on five specific issues that they believe will split support for Hillary Clinton. The issues are:
- "Common Core"
- "Immigration"
- "Future Not Past"
- "National Security"
- "Foreign Money."
- Click here for the power points.
They argue that Mitt Romney did an awful job campaigning in 2012 and that Jeb Bush is the candidate least likely to take advantage of these issues. One of the emerging stories this electoral season is the role outside groups in funding and organizing campaigns. This seems to be a good example of that trend.
I'll post separately on the power points.
Some related items and terms:
Ted Cruz: Rafael Edward "Ted" Cruz (born December 22, 1970) is the junior United States Senator from Texas. Elected in 2012 as a Republican, he is the first Hispanic or Cuban American to serve as a U.S. Senator from Texas. He is the chairman of the subcommittee on the Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. He is also the chairman of the United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee.
Super PAC: Super PACs are a new kind of political action committee created in July 2010 following the outcome of a federal court case known as SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission. Technically known as independent expenditure-only committees, Super PACs may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals, then spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates.
Wedge Issues: A wedge issue is a social issue, often of a divisive or controversial nature, which splits apart a population or political group. Wedge issues can be advertised or publicly aired in an attempt to weaken the unity of a population, with the goal of enticing polarized individuals to give support to an opponent or to withdraw their support entirely out of disillusionment. The use of wedge issues gives rise towedge politics. Wedge issues are also known as hot button or third rail issues.
Mitt Romney presidential campaign, 2012.
