Opposition research is the practice of collecting information on an opponent or other adversary that can be used to discredit or otherwise weaken them. The information can include biographical, legal, criminal, medical, educational, or financial history or activities, as well as prior media coverage, or the voting record of a politician.
Opposition research is one of those disciplines that is part art and part science. It involves being able to locate information on your political or public interest opponents to gain a strategic advantage.
This information can be used for many purposes, such as communications, fundraising, advertising, and strategy development.
Opposition research is not just digging up dirt or gossip. It involves finding where a stake-holding person or organization adverse to your cause’s stands on an issue as well as where they have stood on that particular issue over time. Has there been any dramatic changes? Have they flip-flopped on the.
