Electoral Dysfunction?

And in 2012? Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

Presidential elections may provoke heated supper-table debates, but do they impact fundraising? And if so, what can direct-response marketers do to optimize results during an election season?

The presidential election of 2000 found America without a clear winner for the first time in history. The Supreme Court and the recounters finally confirmed the tally, but the uncertainty held the nation's attention hostage for 36 days, and anecdotally at least, fundraising results dropped precipitously for many organizations (especially in Florida), as people were more engaged with hanging chads than response devices.