"It just proves his campaign is governed by tactics and not ideology," said Republican consultant Craig Shirley, who advised McCain earlier in this cycle.
Ms. de las Heras, who over a decade has conducted many polls on contract to the governing party, said its tactic of giving away washing machines and other items to supporters distorted surveys because many voters told pollsters they intended to vote for the party in hopes of receiving a gift.
But he has governed with aggressive tactics that critics say undermine democracy by expanding presidential power; weakening the independence of the courts; and lashing out often at perceived enemies, including political opponents, the media and, at times, the United States.
Sometime within the same month but much after the event of authorities executing a lock-down in sequence to the April 2013 Boston bombings, Paul commented on the tactics used by governing forces into a harsh criticism that he has written as a "military-style occupation of an American city".
This is a perfect set of tactics for a Republican Party interested only in getting control of government, not actually governing.
Such tactics are rare in governing board elections.
Fighting tactics are governed by several actual rules and enforcers also adopt informal tactics particular to their style and personality.
So, to return to the original issue of the relation of players and tactics: tactics are what govern the base, players are what govern the superstructure (while acknowledging that the two are at times so interrelated as that the distinction feels academic).
The governing party has begun a campaign of machine tactics to sway voters, and the opposition is warning that the election may not be clean.
Some officials say privately that such tactics are damaging the image of the governing party and of the country, which once was one of the continent's most promising and prosperous nations.
