The Permanent Campaign

This is the archive page for The Permanent Campaign, which is no longer actively sending. Sarah Isgur, a veteran of national campaigns and the hard-knocks world of political communications, provided insight into strategy and mechanics of political campaigns with some behind-the-scenes flavor along the way.

By signing up with your email, you agree to The Dispatch’s privacy policy

Thanksgiving Week Mop-Up: Georgia Aftermath

A conversation with Joe Biden's Georgia press secretary.

The Sweep: Midnight Train to Georgia’s Special Elections

In the presidential race, everything's over but the crying. But Republicans still have a good shot to hold the Senate.

The Sweep: Don’t Trust The Exits. Do Trust the Vote!

What you need to know to understand both exit polls and claims of voter fraud.

The Sweep: Your 2020 Election Night Guide 

The swing counties and Senate races we'll have our eye on as returns come in.

The Sweep: Sexual Tar Heeling

Sarah dives into the mailbag before looking at the Senate race in North Carolina.

The Midweek Mop-Up With Former Nevada Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki

On life as a candidate and why jujyfruits are the perfect trail food

The Sweep: Two Weeks’ Notice

You've got polling questions; Sarah's got polling answers.

The Midweek Mop-Up With Ann Compton

Behind the scenes with a veteran debate moderator.

The Sweep: The Witching Hour

Where candidates become presidents and presidents become ...

The Sweep: Virology Edition

How will a COVID October surprise shake up the 2020 race?

Late-Week Mop-Up With Chris Gober: ‘It’s Just Completely Jacked’

How Trump’s COVID diagnosis affects the election. Plus, how campaigns handle Election Day legal challenges.

The Sweep: Can Latino Voters Help Trump Take Florida?

The state's large Cuban American population helps him, and he has cooled his anti-immigration rhetoric this time around.

The Midweek Mop-Up With Reid Epstein

What it's like to be a campaign reporter covering Democrats for the New York Times.

The Sweep: Yep, This Changes Everything

How RBG's death could shake up the Senate, and how the Trump administration might be weighing its options.

The Late-Week Mop-Up: Talking Polls With Kristen Soltis Anderson

Registered voters vs. likely voters, polling samples, and whether we'll see any shifts.

The Sweep: Swing States and Voter Registration Trends

Plus, which forms of electioneering are the most productive.