How Political Consultants Should Plan for 2017, Closeout 2016
Hopefully all your clients have paid, your bills to vendors are caught up, and you’re swimming in greenbacks. What should you be doing to finish out 2016 and lay the foundation for next year? Straighten Out Estimated Taxes Let’s get the unfun stuff out of the way. Uncle Sam always gets his cut. Whether you’re […]
Read MoreSerious 2016 Success for Our Partners & Clients
In an election year that was a roller coaster of emotions and topped off with an Election Day of historic proportions, Cygnal is fortunate to have worked with some of the best and brightest political operatives and committees in the business today. We are proud to have been a part of the success that our […]
Read MorePoll Now…Poll Often…Prep for the Future
The current Presidential campaign is causing dismay down-ballot. When WikiLeaks unloads another damaging batch of emails about Hillary or Trump’s past or current comments come back to bite him, US Senate, Congressional, gubernatorial, and state legislative candidates all cringe. It’s an understandable reaction, wondering if coattails – positive or negative – are going to filter […]
Read MoreRepublican Candidates: There’s a Trump Effect (and How to Handle It)
Republican candidates – especially congressional, state legislative, and local ones – go up and down with his number. For the remaining tens of thousands of Republicans affected by Trump’s every move in the polls, there are ways to use his base but also expand yours. But you need to get in the field with a […]
Read MoreEnsure Final-Stretch Poll Accuracy with These 5 Questions
During these final few weeks, campaigns (and their consultants) are looking to finish strong. Ideally, the countless number of doors knocked, direct mail pieces sent, and digital ads viewed have drawn clear expectations for Election Day. The campaign’s message has resonated with voters, GOTV efforts are strong, and a clear strategic plan for the last […]
Read MoreUsing Polls Effectively Near Election Day
In the political campaign industry, many tough choices are made. Maybe not the dramatic choices of Scandal, but tough nonetheless. As the cycle winds down and election day quickly approaches, political consultants making the right decisions quickly is paramount to winning. If we could physically speak with every voter to find out their stance, to […]
Read More3 Things to Consider in Planning Campaign Strategy Closer to November
As in any Presidential election year, a lot of noise is coming from the race at the top of the ballot. The prevailing notion is that the race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump is having a greater impact on down-ballot races than any time before. Republicans worry about the drag Trump is having on […]
Read MoreUsing Polling & Digital as a 1-2 Punch to Win a Political Campaign
Victory. It’s the euphoric threshold few will embrace, and the haunting desire that drives every competitor to push his or her limits. It’s on worldwide display right now with the 2016 Summer Olympics. In sports and politics, victory is everything. This time during the election cycle reminds me of the early rounds in a boxing […]
Read MoreTips for Starting a Political Consulting Firm
You have a bug. No, not Zika. It’s the political bug. For most of us, once we catch it, we can’t shake it. House of Cards, VEEP, and The West Wing sit high on your must-binge watch lists. Presidential debates and conventions are a reason to throw a party. Even local election returns are exhilarating […]
Read More3 Reasons Polling Wins Your State Legislative Campaign
For those of us inside the political bubble, not a week goes by without a story about the woes of polling. I haven’t attended a major conference in the last couple of years that was without a panel on the state of polling in today’s environment. The good news is that many of the risks […]
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