Campaign Ads and the Differences Between Soliciting Donations and Mobilizing Volunteers
Political science has typically divided its study of nonvoting forms of political participation into two types: those that involve giving money and those that involve giving time.
Research on political participation has long emphasized differences between Americans who donate money to political campaigns and Americans who perform other kinds of political activity. It’s unclear, however, if there are distinctions in how campaigns use advertisements to solicit donations and mobilize grassroots voters. Analyzing Facebook ad data from thousands of ads, donations, and e-mail sign-ups from a recent statewide gubernatorial campaign, we show that campaigns deploy ad themes that vary in their success at attracting donations and mobilizing grassroots activists. Ad effectiveness varies by region of the state as well. Ideological extremity boosts small donations and campaign sign-ups. However, less ideological campaign messages are also effective, perhaps because recipient lists are already curated to include the candidate’s likely supporters.
Read the Full Paper
This paper was originally published by The Journal of Information Technology & Politics
Politics
.webp)
Liberal Democracy Reexamined: Leo Strauss on Alexis de Tocqueville
This article explores Leo Strauss’s thoughts on Alexis de Tocqueville in his 1954 “Natural Right” course transcript.
%20(1).webp)
Long Distance Migration as a Two-Step Sorting Process: The Resettlement of Californians in Texas
Here we press the question of whether the well-documented stream of migrants relocating from California to Texas has been sufficient to alter the political complexion of the destination state.
%20(3).webp)
Who's That Knocking? A Study of the Strategic Choices Facing Large-Scale Grassroots Canvassing Efforts
Although there is a consensus that personalized forms of campaign outreach are more likely to be effective at either mobilizing or even persuading voters, there remains uncertainty about how campaigns should implement get-out-the-vote (GOTV) programs, especially at a truly expansive scale.
The Claim That Trump Is Causing a Constitutional Crisis Ignores a Key Reality
Claims of an ongoing constitutional crisis are overblown.
.webp)
The Climate Has Changed on Climate Change
It’s time to look dispassionately at climate change as just one of the many challenges facing humanity.
The Looming Debt Crisis, the Trump Tax Cuts, and Medicaid
Controlling federal budget deficits is a national imperative that will require reductions in entitlement spending (including Medicaid) and stronger economic growth (including from tax reform).
