AboutJohn C. Berg Expertise How to run for office and win, how to lobby, how to promote your political cause effectively, how to get involved in electoral and issue campaigns, how to get a job in politics.
Experience I have been a professor of political science since 1974, and direct a graduate program in professional politics. I have worked on many campaigns in various capacities.
Organizations American Association of Political Consultants, American Political Science Association, Caucus for a New Political Science, National Society for Experiential Education, International Political Science Association.
Publications Polity, New Political Science, Policy Studies Journal. Author of Unequal Struggle: Class, Gender, Race, and Power in the US Congress.
Education/Credentials PhD, Harvard University, 1975
MA, Harvard University, 1973
BA with Honors, University of Wisconsin, 1964
Question Could the presidential candidates present their viewpoints to the public via TV advertising, instead of campaigning in person around the country? Would TV ads alone be practical? TY.
Answer Certainly they could do that -- I'm not so sure it would be effective, though. Voters tend to resent it if a candidate never appears in their state -- and the opposing candidate would be sure to take advantage of that resentment. Moreover, personal appearances often generate news coverage, aka 'free media,' thus increasing the visibility of the candidate beyond the ad budget.
One oddity of our campaign system is that campaign consutants are paid a commission, by the media, for all the ads they place. Thus, they have a financial incentive to encourage media spending, whether it is effective or not.
