could you explain what the phrase “ground game” means in politics
A good ground game means in the area of coverage, actively having a network that works well on getting the message out, motivating the base to turn out, getting voters to the polls, stopping dirty tricks and making damn sure you win over the opposition.
Here is an excellent article about Whitman’s ground game ops: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/10/22/2128400/voter-turnout-key-in-coming-election.html
It means getting feet ‘on the ground’ to go door to door if necessary to encourage people to go vote for your candidate. The phrase ground game as opposed to putting your message over the airwaves in tv and radio, though I think the phrase ground game has been around a while. Back in the 1930 s and 1940s in Chicago they used to have people giving out cash to people who would go vote. In a case where a few 100,000 votes makes the difference, and during the great depression when $2 meant a lot, a mere $400,00 would ensure 200,000 votes. While that may seem like a lot for the time, consider that the winners controlled the city and all government contracts and directed all feudal funds allocated to the city.