Philip Rucker: Presidential Campaign

presidential campaign: When a candidate launches a presidential campaign, its the beginning of a long, difficult process. But whats often easy to overlook is the fact that these announcements are also the end of a different kind of process candidates in both parties routinely spend months, if not years, laying the groundwork for a national race. And a key element of this pre-campaign phase involves spending time with and ideally, impressing party leaders and insiders who will help shape broader perceptions about the candidates credibility. Philip Rucker and Robert Costa referred to this as the credentials caucus , as Republican presidential aspirants quietly study up on issues and cultivate ties to pundits and luminaries from previous administrations. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.