Thread by @JuddLegum

1. This is an accurate description of oppo research and describes why oppo research did not discover the deceptions of Congressman-elect George Santos

But it skips over a larger problem: the Democratic Party's failure to invest and prioritize research

nytimes.com/2022/12/22/opi…

2. In Democratic politics, research is considered an entry level job that you slog through on your way to something glitzier like press

It's a task delegated to the most inexperienced and lowest-paid staff

3. Meanwhile, pollsters are paid MILLIONS to message test based on information that is already public to find the most effective message.

These millions usually result in ads about how candidate X "supports working families"

4. These messages poll well but do not break through in the modern information environment.

Research can provide information that can break through, but its seen as an afterthought

Most Congressional campaigns and many Senate campaigns don't have real research operations

5. I'll add that Republicans have long taken a different approach to opposition research.

While Democrats utilize recent college graduates and interns, Republicans generally employ experienced lawyers to do oppo, at least for high-profile races

6. Democrats would be better off if they stopped fetishizing polling and made real investments in research capacity.

The best pollsters value research because they understand it can unlock messages that make a real difference.

But it's not the norm.

7. In addition to a lack a resources, few people provide effective training on how to do political research and how to present it.

The process of creating a "book" described in @tysonbrody's op-ed is the same thing I was doing when I started doing political research in 1997

@tysonbrody 8. The idea of a static "book" (which literally used to be a three ring binder) was outdated by the early 2000s

And yet, it is still being utilized today because there is very little innovation in the research world

@tysonbrody 9. Final thought: While oppo research has a bad reputation it is actually something that benefits the public.

The public should have known more about Santos before election day

Message polling is just about manipulation

Oppo research informs

This attitude by the Dem establishment is exactly what I’m talking about. A research director for each REGION means that each is responsible for dozens and dozens of races. Impossible to do the job thoroughly.

https://twitter.com/lukaske/status/1605965629009416194

Questions:

How much does the DCCC spend on POLLING v research

How much does the DCCC spend on COMMS v research

How much does the DCCC spend on TV ADS v research

The establishment and the network of consultants that benefit from status quo resource allocation is very invested in keeping things the same. So they don’t like this thread.

I’m not disparaging research. I’m arguing it should be treated with more respect.

Interesting that all the people objecting to this thread are Comms people or outside consultants. No one who actually does research.

I’ll drop this now but I think it’s interesting that there are a bunch on Comms people in my mentions telling me I’m an inconsiderate moron and the research people are in my DMs telling me I am correct

People seem to be misinterpreting this tweet. I am not saying that I BELIEVE research is boring or entry level. I’ve devoted my career to it, including on/for political campaigns.

I’m saying it needs more respect and resources

https://twitter.com/juddlegum/status/1605955886152916993

Thank you Dennis

https://twitter.com/dennisyedwab/status/1606000704824365057

Gehrke is one of the most experienced researchers in democratic politics.

https://twitter.com/mikegehrke/status/1605968212792954881