Description

One of the least understood elements to a successful campaign is the amount of research required to win election. We hear about Oppo (opposition research) in the press, and understand instinctively its benefits to a campaign. But campaigns rarely deliver a knockout punch to their opponent, so to speak. More often, they win because they connect to the voters on an emotional level; the candidate speaks for the voters, voters hear their own voice in him or her.

How campaigns make this connection to voters is usually through the tedious process of research, research done (for the most part) before the campaign blueprint is written. Research highlights information that will be useful in the campaign. That research/information informs the strategy, upon which it is based. The strategy defines the campaign Theme and its Message(s). And that message, if the research is thorough, connects with voters.

This workshop will serve as an introduction to Opposition and Campaign Research. Not only will Opposition Research be covered, but also Issues Research, Geodemographic Research and why it is important for the campaign to research its candidate as well as the opposing one! Opposition Research covers more than what some might expect -- the opponent's prior campaigns as well as any legislative, public policy or even business history that might be relevant to the campaign. It uncovers the kinds of coalitions an opponent might have built to win election or pass legislation. And it seeks wedges that might be useful to pry coalition partners away from an opponent. Continuing the prior analogy (from the Basics workshop), if campaigns are like war, then Campaign Research is like Intel -- the better informed a campaign is, the better the decisions it makes in the heat of the campaign.

This workshop will be led by co-leaders, one who will discuss research for campaigns on the Federal level and the other (Rob Nesvacil of the IL Rapid Response Network) who will focus on research at the local level.

This seminar will be comprehensive. An extensive tutorial will be provided for each participant, with a reading list and a list of resources. The number of participants will be limited to 25, due to the constraints of the meeting space and access to computer terminals. People with wireless-ready laptops are encouraged to bring them, given the limited number of computer terminals. Reservations are recommended (RSVP through the website).

Location

Adler Planetarium Classroom
1300 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606

All the museums on the Museum Campus have Lake Shore Drive addresses, though none of them are actually located on Lake Shore Drive. This can cause serious confusion if only the address is entered into Mapquest or some other direction service. Adler Planetarium is located on the Museum Campus along with Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, and Soldier Field. Please enter at ground level on South side of building and mention that you are here for the workshop in the classroom.

Public Transportation

Take the CTA Red Line or Orange Line to Roosevelt Road (1200 South) Cross Roosevelt and transfer to the #12 Roosevelt Rd. bus heading east to the Museum Campus (If the free trolley is available go ahead and take it but waiting for it is not reccomended.)  Take the #12 to the end of the line.  It is about a 10 minute ride, and the Adler Planetarium is the last stop on the route.

You can also catch a #146 southbound bus on State Street just stay on until the end of the line, this bus route terminates at the Adler Planetarium.

Driving Directions

Exit Lake Shore Drive at 18th St. (Museum Campus/Soldier Field exit) follow 18th around behind Soldier Field and then North between Soldier Field and the lake continue straight ahead as far as you can go. The Planetarium is located on the far end of the peninsula.

Meter parking (25 cents /half hour) is first come - first serve. Parking lot is $7.00 for the evening.