Political strategists are also known as political consultants, campaign
managers and pollsters. They work in many levels of government. They advise
politicians during a campaign and sometimes keep working during their term
in office. They judge what the people want from their leaders and how they
might react to new policies.
To help direct campaigns, these strategists put polls together, write direct-mail
letters, create TV and radio advertisements and put up political web pages.
The job of political strategist really developed in the last half of the
20th century because of technology such as TV, radio and the Internet. Through
the media, politicians were able to get their message across to the public
quickly.
Using the media to direct campaigns and get exposure for candidates is
a key job for political strategists. Sometimes, they also use the media to
spread negative information about their opponents.
Political campaigns are run for many positions at the local, state and
federal levels. Examples of candidates who may use political strategists are
mayors, governors and senators.
When a campaign is up and running, political strategists work long, grueling
hours. It's their job to keep ahead of the competition, to produce new strategies
for each day and to manage the campaign. Work in the evenings and on weekends
is essential.
Running a campaign is stressful work. It may require a great deal of travel.
Political strategists need to be energetic and ready to work on the go.