Elections are a fundamental part of American politics. There are many factors that influence the conduct of elections, but what is most important is the work that goes into preparing for them. Elections are like baseball's World Series, and campaigning is all the training you've done beforehand. Elections are the important part of the game, but without all the campaigning there can be no elections. The candidates are wise and know that the campaign is a real deciding factor when it comes time to vote. The campaign process is a time to try to get to know voters and create a certain type of connection that would result in more followers. Congressional campaigns, unlike presidential campaigns, are aimed at districts where they can have a more personal relationship with their voters, which would help them get more votes. In the 1958 Senate campaign in Maine, Edmund Muskie used many different components to appeal to his voters. The campaign dedicated some of its resources to the public in a way that made them more aware of Edmund Muskie's candidacy. The Muskie campaign used advertisements that used plain language to help voters choose and understand what they were reading. An examination of television commercials, political messages, and newspaper ads in the months leading up to the election reveals the ways in which Muskie's campaign captivated the public. Edmund Muskie was born March 28, 1914 to Stephen and Josephine Muskie in Rumford, Maine; Muskie was the second of six children. Edwin Muskie excelled in high school and received a scholarship to a nearby institution, Bates College. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in literature in 1936 and went on to pursue a career as a lawyer... middle of paper... many of Muskie's speeches used simple language to help the audience understand and allow them to feel more comfortable with the message contained in speech. Muskie's campaign was a "For the People" campaign. That means he was dedicated to teaching the people of Maine about the changes Muskie wanted to make when elected senator. He focused his campaign on environmental and international politics. He conveyed this message in a way that influenced voters. Edmund Muskie's use of emotional influence as part of his congressional campaign permanently changed the way his voters voted. Works Cited Muskie, Edmund S. Archives and SpecialCollections Library, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine. “September 8, 1958 Mid-term Revolution,” United State Senate, accessed February 3, 2012, http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Mid_term_Revolution.htm