What Has You Stumped?

Explore the role of third-party candidates and how the American political system makes it very difficult for anyone outside the Republican or Democratic Party to win the White House.

Primary season can be a wild ride. See how the primary process works as voters narrow the field of candidates in contest after contest, while the parties use complicated rules to try to control who ultimately secures the nomination.

National conventions are supposed to be a show of party power and solidarity, but there’s always the potential for dissent. See how they have evolved and how they can impact candidates and the electorate.

See how candidates make a final push to sway undecided voters and avoid mistakes that could magnify into embarrassing gaffes in the last weeks of the campaign.

See how candidates stage carefully choreographed events in hopes of impressing voters as they tour the country — and analyze tools and techniques candidates use to connect with voters on the campaign trail.

See how advisers and speechwriters shape the words of presidential candidates for maximum effect — and evaluate rhetorical techniques that presidential candidates use, with a focus on political slogans.

See how the candidates, special interest groups and news outlets compete to get their narrative of the campaign heard — and evaluate the value of seeking multiple sources of information about the candidates and their campaigns.

See how attack ads can drown out the promises of positive campaigns. Analyze some of the techniques utilized in campaign ads, and discuss the pros and cons of negative ads from the perspective of candidates and voters.

See how social media revolutionized how the public and candidates interact — and evaluate how it affects political campaigns.

Explore why supporters — and opponents — of candidates attend political rallies, even in an age of digital communications and virtual reality.

Throughout U.S. history, Americans have silently stewed and actively protested that elections are unfair and fixed against them. Explore these criticisms of the political process.