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The Victory Lab, Chapter 4 "The Two Percent Solution"

Answer the following questions based on your reading of Chapter 4, The Victory Lab.

Question 1

Short answer

Compare and contrast the traditional techniques used by the Democratic and Republican parties to increase voter turnout prior to the 2000 election. How did each party's approach reflect their broader strategies and constituencies?

Question 2

Short answer

Discuss the scientific approach Blaise Hazelwood undertook to transform the Republican party's method of improving voter turnout.

Question 3

Short answer

Based on the following excerpts from Chapter 4, Dowd is undoubtedly thinking of the advantages social media algorithms will bring to focused campaign ads. Compare the effectiveness of in-person canvassing versus targeted social media campaign ads in increasing voter turnout. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, and how might their impact vary across different voter demographics?

Source 3.1

"Knowing where a voter lives, how old they are, what gender they are, and all those things are very important. But nothing is as important as understanding what they really care about," [Hazelwood] said. "To accomplish this, we need better information on more voters. This can be done, but it will take a team effort and a lot of people willing to give some time."

The Victory Lab, by Sasha Issenberg, pg. 74

Source 3.2

Dowd was sitting on a panel to discuss the findings. Though he kept it to himself at the time, he had recently learned of a method that promised to render entirely moot the arduous and costly process that Hazelwood had just outlined. This new tool would offer a powerful boost to whichever party first mastered it: a way to divining what issues every single voter in America cared about without having to track them down and ask them individually.

The Victory Lab, by Sasha Issenberg, pg. 75

Question 4

Short answer

Ask a parent or other adult about the various ways they have been "canvassed" so far during this election season. If they have not been personally canvassed "in-person" by a paid or volunteer canvasser this election season, ask them if they have ever been contacted personally (robo calls do not count) and whether it was a positive or negative experience for them. What types of questions were they asked? Did the in-person contact increase the pressure or desire to vote? Write a full paragraph summarizing your interview.

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The Victory Lab, Chapter 4 "The Two Percent Solution"

Question 1

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Question 3

Question 4

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