Political strategist

Political strategists within national political campaigns are key decision makers. They direct a campaign's message across media and "work with the candidate on speeches and answers to questions so the right message will be communicated on the campaign trail and in front of the TV cameras," according to the Houston Chronicle. According to Real Clear Politics, digital strategy teams are increasingly important, as they "are now the engine rooms of presidential campaigns."

The term can sometimes be used as a general definition for individuals related to the political process. As Politico notes, the term is popularly "used as a catchall tag for a whole host of people with varied — and often peripheral — backgrounds in electoral politics." The Washington Post playfully defines the term as, "Someone who has at least one political campaign on their LinkedIn page and always picks up the phone when reporters call."

See also

• Political director
• Campaign manager
• Campaign communications