Campaign Trend Podcast

Have a question, comment, idea or suggestion? Send us a text.Daria Grastara is CEO of Direct Persuasion, a performance marketing and persuasion advertising agency serving Republican campaigns and issue advocacy organizations. During the 2022 election cycle Daria was Digital Director at the NRSC and she’s also worked on the Trump campaign and at the NRCC.In our conversation, we discuss the transition in ownership of the firm, that challenges she’s faced as an entrepreneur, and the lessons learned along the way.Visit our website: CampaignTrend.com

Have a question, comment, idea or suggestion? Send us a text.Seth Blank is the Chief Technology Officer at Valimail, a leading provider of email authentication and anti-impersonation solutions. Seth is also co-chair of the DMARC working group for the Internet Engineering Task Force.We’ll also talk about Valimail’s outreach to political campaigns and what Seth thinks campaigns can do to send better emails.The New Requirements for Email Delivery at GmailVisit our website: CampaignTrend.com

Have a question, comment, idea or suggestion? Send us a text.Our guest today is Grover Norquist, founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform. Since 1985, Grover and ATR have been a fixture of Republican politics, shaping the party’s dedication to cutting taxes. In our conversation, we discuss the origins of ATR, the keys to its long-lasting success, and lessons for other organizational entrepreneurs.Visit our website: CampaignTrend.com

Zack Roday, Partner at Ascent Media, discusses strategies for creating impactful content in a fragmented media landscape. Topics include adapting to evolving media consumption habits, using stacked content in political campaigns, analyzing metrics for success, and maximizing impact through authentic storytelling in advocacy.

Jason Thielman, Executive Director of NRSC, discusses the strategy decisions guiding the GOP in 2024, the challenges of online fundraising, and the behind-the-scenes process of recruiting someone to run for Senate.

Have a question, comment, idea or suggestion? Send us a text.Today, we’re talking with Jon Seaton, Managing Partner of Camelback Strategy Group, a full-service political consulting and public affairs firm. Jon was Associate Director of Political Affairs for President George W. Bush and served as Regional Campaign Manager for Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign. Jon and I dig into the changing nature of the campaign ground game, how data and technology have transformed door knocking, and the rise of paid canvassing. TakeawaysTechnology has revolutionized the campaign ground game, allowing for more effective measurement and targeting of door knocking operations.Building a modern, effective ground game involves identifying persuadable voters, creating scripts that resonate with them, and maintaining ongoing contact to reinforce messaging.Canvassing remains a highly effective and personal way to communicate with voters, providing an opportunity for face-to-face conversations and influencing voter decisions.Paid canvassing has become increasingly popular as it allows campaigns to recruit well-trained canvassers and ensure consistent standards and productivity.The risks of paid canvassing include potential negative interactions captured on doorbell cameras and the need for careful training and management to maintain a positive campaign image.The future of campaign ground games involves further advancements in targeting, personalized messaging, and coordination across multiple communication channels.Visit our website: CampaignTrend.com

Exploring how experimentation can make TV ads more effective in political campaigns, using data-driven analysis and randomized control trials to optimize ad messages. Discussing the importance of content optimization over targeting for lasting impact, and the influence of AI on political advertising with ethical concerns in the digital era.

Have a question, comment, idea or suggestion? Send us a text.Our guest today is Kurt Luidhardt, co-founder of the Prosper Group, one of the leading digital strategy firms for Republicans. Kurt and his team have worked for candidates across the country, including Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, and many more. In today's episode, we're talking about the future of digital strategy, online fundraising, and what recent shifts in tactics mean for a new path forward for creating content to engage supporters.Visit our website: CampaignTrend.com

Have a question, comment, idea or suggestion? Send us a text.Our guest is Patrick Wohl, author of the new book Down Ballot: How A Local Campaign Became a national referendum on abortion. Patrick is a Washington, DC-based public affairs professional and also has extensive experience on the campaign trail up and down the ballot. In our conversation, we discuss the small race that became a big deal, the long-term impact of the outcome, and we even dig into the book publishing industry.Visit our website: CampaignTrend.com

Researchers David Kanevsky from 3D Strategic Research and Peter Barnes from the State Government Leadership Foundation discuss key findings from the Virginia Post Election Survey. They highlight the impact of the abortion debate, Republican early voting initiatives, and the role of social media and digital streaming platforms in the election outcomes.