A question Labor may want to ask itself, when assessing its governance and electoral strategy, is: how has it improved economic prospects in those specific electorates where the Palmer vote spiked?
Data-driven campaign techniques like microtargeting — using data mining to deliver a tailored message to a specific subgroup of the electorate — cannot change the fundamentals of an election or make an unlikable candidate suddenly likable.
Voters in a local constituency elect a specific M.P., but it is the party, not the wider electorate, that determines who becomes Prime Minister.
"Huckabee has a specific appeal on specific issues to an important sliver of the electorate," said Kevin Madden, a spokesman for Mr. Romney.
To the portion of the electorate most loyal to his predecessor, Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mr. Bloomberg could present a specific message about his success in lowering crime.
The amount of time necessary (up to 3 or 4 hours) during a specific block of time during the day makes it possible for only a limited percentage of the electorate, primarily Party activists, to participate.
XIIIC, as amended by Proposition 26, requires the peoples' vote, for it mandates, "No local government may impose, extend or increase any special tax unless … that tax is submitted to the electorate and approved by a two-thirds vote". A special tax is one "imposed for a specific purpose". The electric rate is for a specific purpose.
Because however much the treasurer tries to skew the question, when this debate gets down to specifics, the electorate is not going to buy any "user choice" or "contestability" or "competition" in human services unless they are convinced the government is not only thinking about cheaper services but also about the humans who need them and the society they hold together.
Seven thousand residents, randomly selected from the electoral roll for a New South Wales electorate in Australia were sent the questionnaire by post.
A healthy democracy requires an informed electorate.
This is not a happy electorate.
