The popularity of each candidate’s message and chances of victory depend not only on the strength of their personal appeal to voters but also their campaign infrastructure.
There is no one formula for victory in the Democratic mayoral primary and the top eight candidates are running vastly different campaigns. The popularity of each candidate’s message and chances of victory depend not only on the strength of their personal appeal to voters but also their campaign infrastructure – including the tacticians, advisors, consultants, and campaign staff members who mostly go unseen but whose work informs the candidates’ policies, positions, fundraising, advertising, and public appearances.
As to be expected, consultants, in particular, are having a lucrative year supplying the mayoral candidates with all manner of advice. The more well-resourced campaigns are spending hundreds of thousands, if not millions, on firms and individuals helping them hone their pitch. Leaner campaigns have had to be more creative as they try to curry favor with the electorate with fewer campaign professionals.