Judd Legum

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@dougblandry Yes, some people believe that I consider research to be unimportant when I’ve devoted my entire career to it, including on political campaigns — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

I’ll drop this now but I think it’s interesting that there are a bunch on Comms people in my mentions telling me I’m an inconsiderate moron and the research people are in my DMs telling me I am correct — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@tjhansen I did lead what that. My first tweet was that research needed more investment and more emphasis compared to other campaign functions like polling. The people denigrating research are those paying millions to pollsters while researchers get subsistence wages — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@tjhansen @ProPoliticsPod Anyone who has done research will confirm that, at times, it is a slog. If you are unwilling to do the slog, you will not get the results you want — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@tjhansen @ProPoliticsPod Ok well I’m sorry you don’t like my tone but I think we agree on the substance. My point was about investment, not personnel. I’ve worked with hundreds of political researchers in my career and find them to be extremely talented! That’s why I think they should be paid more — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@tjhansen @ProPoliticsPod And are you denying that Democrats hire entry-level staffers to do research? Seems factual — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@tjhansen @ProPoliticsPod I’m sure they do great work. I’m saying they should be paid more and are asked to do more than is reasonable. It’s about resource allocation, not talent. — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@tjhansen @ProPoliticsPod Ok, so that was my point. What’s the problem then? — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@lukaske @mfuehrme @sresh24 @namattes @tjhansen @sammimcclain @Ms_Alex_W @AliceinDCland @dukedaughter Have fun defending the status quo! Everything is great! All criticism is invalid. I’m arguing research needs more resources. You are arguing against it. Good luck. — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@Ms_Alex_W @lukaske @mfuehrme @sresh24 @namattes @tjhansen @sammimcclain @AliceinDCland @dukedaughter My opinion is you should get paid more and have more staff instead of lighting money on fire with a bunch of overpriced pollsters. You disagree? — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@Ms_Alex_W I’m on your side. I’m saying you should get paid more and have more staff. You disagree? — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@lukaske @mfuehrme @sresh24 @namattes @tjhansen @sammimcclain @Ms_Alex_W @AliceinDCland @dukedaughter So that’s a no. I’ve spent years of my life doing it under intense pressure. I know what it takes. — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

Interesting that all the people objecting to this thread are Comms people or outside consultants. No one who actually does research. — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@lukaske The total number of seats won proves nothing. I’m talking about the resources needed to do research properly. There are lots of factors that go into a win or loss. Research is one of them. — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@jonbsutt OK. How much was spent on polling v research? How much on TV ads v research? — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@lukaske Impossible to do the job of oppo research properly. Have you ever been responsible for oppo research at any level? — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@lukaske Did I learn about it from the West Wing? — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@lukaske What’s my background in oppo research? — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@Rodericka I don’t? Why not — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@lukaske How much did the DCCC spend on polling compared to research? What about TV ads? — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@lukaske You know absolutely nothing about me, clearly — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

The establishment and the network of consultants that benefit from status quo resource allocation is very invested in keeping things the same. So they don’t like this thread. I’m not disparaging research. I’m arguing it should be treated with more respect. — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

Questions: How much does the DCCC spend on POLLING v research How much does the DCCC spend on COMMS v research How much does the DCCC spend on TV ADS v research — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

This attitude by the Dem establishment is exactly what I’m talking about. A research director for each REGION means that each is responsible for dozens and dozens of races. Impossible to do the job thoroughly. — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@cjwarnke Lol, I’m not disparaging research. I’m criticizing people defending status quo investments — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@lukaske One research director for each REGION. I rest my case. — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@tysonbrody 9. Final thought: While oppo research has a bad reputation it is actually something that benefits the public. The public should have known more about Santos before election day Message polling is just about manipulation Oppo research informs — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

@tysonbrody 8. The idea of a static "book" (which literally used to be a three ring binder) was outdated by the early 2000s And yet, it is still being utilized today because there is very little innovation in the research world — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

7. In addition to a lack a resources, few people provide effective training on how to do political research and how to present it. The process of creating a "book" described in @tysonbrody's op-ed is the same thing I was doing when I started doing political research in 1997 — PolitiTweet.org

Judd Legum @JuddLegum

6. Democrats would be better off if they stopped fetishizing polling and made real investments in research capacity. The best pollsters value research because they understand it can unlock messages that make a real difference. But it's not the norm. — PolitiTweet.org