What Is Opposition Research? Understanding the Tactics Used by Political Campaigns to Conduct and Use Opposition Research

MasterClass ^ | 9/29/21 | MasterClass

[DallasBiff]

Opposition research is one of the most important parts of running a political campaign. Whether you’re using it to highlight your opponent’s ideological inconsistencies or reveal a more salacious personal indiscretion, conducting thorough opposition research is necessary to running a competitive campaign.

[DallasBiff]

I get a lot of crap from others about posting the lunatic democrat ravings of the harpies on "The View", but it was opposition research that got Trump elected, IMO.

Flame away.

[usurper]

But it was opposition research that got Trump elected, IMO.

Only because the dems opp research was complete BS for the last 9 years. Now, no one believes anything they say or their demonic slaves in the media. They have to come to grips with the fact that their lies don't work anymore.

But they just can't.

[Tell It Right]

Opposition research:

1. Researching secrets to use against an opponent.
2. If you can't find dirt on Trump you make it up and say it repeatedly until he can be charged as though it's fact.

[ansel12]

The only time that I accepted pay for a campaign was doing oppo research, someone has to research the opposition, but I didn’t care for it.

[Rockingham]

I did opposition research for more than twenty years for a large state Republican party. From what I have seen, this so-called “master class” in more like a short and superficial introduction. And yes, opposition research can decide elections and was one of the key to Trump’s victory.

[Silentgypsy]

Can you describe how that key worked?

[Rockingham]

Many candidates -- especially Republicans -- do not like to draw a sharp comparison with their opponent and ask the voters to make a choice. They also do not like to be mean, so to speak, by pointing out the defects of their opponent. Such candidates often yield to family and friends urging them to "stay positive" and "not run a negative campaign." I have seen otherwise good candidates lose simply for unwillingness to fight.

One of the advantages that the Democratic party has is that they have a base of trial lawyers and labor organizers who are fighters by nature and experience. They can be ruthless in not just researching their opponents but in running negative ads and often smearing them with the help of the news media.

Rising to great wealth as a developer, Trump had to fight every day, honing his skills as a fighter and his natural competitive and combative streak. To win the 2024 campaign, Trump had to fight the Department of Justice to a standstill with his wealth and freedom on the line.

Then Trump ran an extraordinary series of campaign rallies, town halls, and lengthy interviews -- in addition to constant telephone calls and meetings. Trump set and kept to an exhausting pace at an age when most people are retired and devoted to pastimes and spoiling their grandchildren.

Most of all, Trump picked his issues and hammered away at them and at the failings of his opponents. By the end of the campaign, in spite of media hostility, the country knew what the issues were and had reason to vote for Trump instead of Harris. Trump did not luck into an extraordinary landslide. He fought for and earned it.

[Silentgypsy]

Thank you much.