by Celeste Moyers
I recently received a call from various political campaigns in need of opposition research. While opposition research seldom experiences a “dead season,” these campaigns were calling about the November election, two months away.
The problems these campaigns identified were those I had been alerting them to for over a year. However, at that time and even now, the necessity of opposition research was a reactionary afterthought. Races were too close for comfort and election day was fast approaching. Some candidates ultimately won their race, if only by a slim margin, while others lost races they should have won. All of these campaigns spent far more money than what should have been necessary. I firmly believe that had these campaigns hired opposition research at the beginning of their campaign, many more deserving candidates would have won office, the margin of victory would have been greater and overall campaign expenses would have been lower.
Few people realize that providing opposition research requires a private investigator’s license. Thus, hiring a political strategist, polling expert, campaign staffer, advance man or oil and gas landman who “also” does opposition research means that person is operating illegally as an unlicensed private investigator. As such, they face heavy fines and jail time for doing so. In Texas, the Texas Private Security Bureau makes this very clear[1]. Whether it’s called creating a “political profile,” “political backgrounder,” “vulnerability assessment,” “candidate evaluation” or “looking for dirt,” the tools, tactics and intent all fall within private investigation services.
However, simply hiring a private investigator to work on a political campaign is useless if that private investigator has no history of working in politics. A political background enables the investigator to know what to look for that may sway voter opinion, increase voter turnout and enable your candidate to win. A political background also enables the investigator to know how their findings can be used throughout a campaign and what will be most useful to a political strategist, communications strategist, polling expert or grassroots coordinator.
In my opinion, the bulk of opposition research must occur at the beginning of a campaign – when looking for a candidate and wanting to know whether they’re a good investment, when you have selected your candidate, or when you know your likely opponents. Depending on the importance and visibility of office, opposition research can take anywhere from two weeks to six months. This timeline can also lengthen based on the number of candidates or an incumbent’s years in office.
Opposition research is also extremely useful at the onset of a campaign, when developing polling questions and determining messaging strategy. Hence, opposition research must be part of a campaign’s initial preparations. Opposition research can also identify untapped groups of potential voters and flashpoint issues for voters. Findings become news stories and attack ads – all invaluable tools in your toolbox and weapons in your arsenal, ready to use if and when needed.
We at Nexus Investigations have a long history working in politics. We’re also licensed private investigators. We work with investors, communications strategists, polling experts, campaign strategists, incumbents and candidate hopefuls. In addition to identifying a candidate’s strengths, potential vulnerabilities and opponent weaknesses, we offer reputation management, to help keep a candidate in office once elected.
For more information, contact Nexus Investigations at (214) 736 – 7920. www.NexusInvestigations.com
[1] See Texas Private Security Act, Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1702, “Private Security” and the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Administrative Code, Title 37, Chapter 35 on Private Security.
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