Campaign Strategy and Messaging with David Axelrod and Karl Rove
Lo que aprenderás
- How to design an effective campaign strategy, from assessing your candidate to high-level decision-making.
- Techniques for crafting and delivering messages that resonate across diverse audiences.
- Behind-the-scenes insights into historic campaigns—what succeeded, what failed, and why.
- Tools to target key voter demographics and maximize digital outreach performance.
- How to build compelling narratives aligned with a candidate’s values and the electorate’s expectations.
- Real-world examples of crisis response, strategic pivots and message adaptation.
- Practical tips and frameworks you can apply immediately in political or advocacy campaigns.
Docente/Instructor
Docente/Instructor
Módulos, unidades y evaluaciones
COURSE CONTENTS
Through 24 on-demand lessons, the course takes you step by step through launching a campaign, assessing candidates and opponents, building a campaign plan, understanding voters, budgeting and fundraising, developing and testing messages, using media and social platforms, managing debates, mobilizing volunteers, handling crises, and closing the race. A downloadable workbook supports each stage so you can adapt the frameworks to your own campaign or advocacy project.
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Class Workbook (downloadable PDF)
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Introduction
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Starting a campaign
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Assessing your candidate
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Researching your opponent
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Working on a campaign
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The Campaign Plan
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Understanding the electorate and targeting
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Polling and focus groups
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Budgeting and fundraising
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The campaign message
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Campaign Messaging – Case Study
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Public Appearances
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Getting your message out
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Harnessing social media
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Direct Mail
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Slogans and Logos
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Supporting your candidate
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Mobilizing volunteers
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Debates
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Keeping the campaign on track
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Identifying influencers
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The end of the race
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The current state of politics
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Parting Words
Detalles adicionales del curso
This on-demand, self-paced program gives you lifetime access to the complete campaign-strategy playbook of David Axelrod and Karl Rove, two of the most influential political strategists of the modern era. Across more than five hours of high-level lessons, they break down the real mechanics of building, messaging, and running a winning campaign, from the earliest conversations about a candidate’s identity to the final hours before Election Day.
Through a combination of detailed explanations, case studies, and insider reflections, Axelrod and Rove walk you step-by-step through how campaigns are actually built: assessing strengths, researching opponents, shaping the core message, targeting voters, budgeting resources, raising funds, preparing for debates, and responding to unexpected crises. Their contrasting experiences offer a rare bipartisan lens on how strategic decisions are made, how narratives are crafted, and how campaigns adapt to shifting political realities.
Designed for professionals who want practical, applicable knowledge, this course gives you tools you can implement immediately, whether you’re managing a political campaign, working in advocacy, advising leaders, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of how modern elections are won. A certificate of completion is available at the end of the program.