Political insiders reveal the thinking behind some key election campaign mainstays

The photo op. Talking points. Those attack ads that everyone loves to hate. Why do parties seemingly use the same tactics in election campaign after election campaign?

It's all about control, according to party insiders from the Liberals, the Conservativesand the NDP.And there is a well-considered, well-thought-out reason for almost everythingyou see and hear in the lead-up to October's election day in Canada.

Usingtheir behind-the-scenes experiencesand some historical examples CBC'sPower and Politics host Vassy Kapelospulls back the curtain on some of the most well-worn, oft-used tactics of political campaigns.

Talking points

You know them when you hear them. The same lines, repeated over and over and over,by the party leader and candidatesso often that, by the end of the campaign,you can recite the lines right along with them.

But that's only one reason parties rely so heavily on talking points.

Politicians say the same things over and over: Here's why

5 years ago

Duration 7:32

Talking points are a public relations tool used by politicians and parties at every level. The intention is to keep politicians on track and ensure the party message sinks into the public consciousness, but some experts say sticking too close to a talking point risks losing the message entirely.

Photo ops

A leader, a podiumand a carefully chosen backdrop of "everyday Canadians." That's what the campaign photo op has,for the most part, evolved intothese days. Parties know aphoto op can make or break a campaign. Those that go well just fade into memory.

Thosethat don'tcan haunt a leader for yearseven decades after the vote.

How politicians avoid a photo-op fail: Unpacking the staged campaign event

5 years ago

Duration 7:11

Can one bad photo op make or break a leaders chances at winning an election? Strategists stage events that are highly controlled and co-ordinated to avoid the risk of being derailed by gaffes. But you cant avoid them all, and experts say being too controlled can sometimes be just as risky.

Attack ads

Going into every election, many leaders pledge to run a positive campaign. And study after study suggests Canadians don't like negativity either on the campaign trail,or in the ads they see on TV orin social media. So why do so many parties rely on them come election time? Insiders saythey haveimpact.

But they can backfire, too.

Why political parties run attack ads even if you dont like them

5 years ago

Duration 7:21

Its widely known that most people dont like negative ads, so why do parties rely on them when election time comes around? Political strategists say even though people say they don't like them, they are one of the most effective tools for changing public opinion. But there are unofficial rules, and if they arent followed they can be disastrous for parties.

Fake news

There doesn't have to be an election going on to prompt a tidal wave of news and information in your favourite feeds. But it is increasingly impossible to assume that all of it is accurate or even true. So how do you discern the real from the fake?

Here's a short primer onwhat to look for and how to protect yourself from falling for election disinformation and misinformation.

Why its so easy to fall for fake news and how to spot it

5 years ago

Duration 6:56

Whether during an election or just a regular day of the year, people are bombarded with news and information in their feeds. So how do we know what's true and what's false? A lot of it unravels with a little digging. We show you what to look for and how to protect yourself from falling for disinformation and misinformation.

Debates

They've been part of the Canadian election landscape since 1968. And a lot of time and energy is spent preparing party leaders for the main, televised campaign debate. They draw big audiences, but do they change votes?

On thisquestion, party strategists and political scientists diverge.

Do leaders' debates change how people vote?

5 years ago

Duration 8:39

Debates have been a hallmark of Canadian elections since 1968, but what effect do they actually have on voters? Strategists will tell you theyre critical to elections and a lot of planning goes into them. Researchers, on the other hand, say theres evidence they can change votes, though often they don't.