Quiz: Serious Campaign Strategy or Teenage Prank?

Though running for office is a serious endeavor, the tactics employed in the hunt for victory can be downright juvenile. For each of the following, identify whether the tactic was used or contemplated for use in a major political campaign — or if it's the product of adolescent dumbassery. Links contain spoilers. Answers below the break.

1.  Using a campaign bus to circle and honk at the location of a campaign speech to be given by the president.

2.  "Operation Coal," a plan to funnel cash to Rep. Shirley Chisholm, a black congresswoman from Brooklyn seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, to undermine more mainstream Democrats.

3. "Operation Sapphire," a plan to station prostitutes on a yacht, wired for sound, off the coast of the Democratic Convention in Miami.

4. Sending protesters to shout down a press conference by the opposing campaign.

5. Prank calling the homes of partisan voters.

6. "Operation Dogpoop," a plan to leave a strategically placed paper bag at the doorstep of Democratic voters, ring the door bell, and run.

Answers: #'s 1 and 4 are attributable to the Romney campaign. #5 comes courtesy of the Wisconsin recall election. The Nixon braintrust is responsible #2 and #3.

#6 isn't really a campaign tactic inasmuch as it is a metaphor for 8 years of the Bush administration.

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