Editing Opposition research (section)

{{Short description|Political negative campaigning practice}}
{{Political campaigning}}
In [[politics]], '''opposition research''' (also called '''oppo research''') is the practice of [[Data collection|collecting information]] on a political opponent or other adversary that can be used to discredit or otherwise weaken them. The information can include [[Biography|biographical]], legal, [[Criminal record|criminal]], [[Medical history|medical]], educational, or financial history or activities, as well as prior media coverage, or the voting record of a politician. Opposition research can also entail using [[Tracker (politics)|trackers]] to follow an individual and record their activities or political speeches.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-05-22/opposition-research-romney-obama/55138756/1 |title=Researchers dig deeper for dirt on political opposition |last=Schouten |first=Fredreka |date=23 May 2012 |work=USA Today}}</ref>

The research is usually conducted in the time period between announcement of intent to run and the actual election; however political parties maintain long-term databases that can cover several decades. The practice is both a tactical maneuver and a cost-saving measure.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |first=Stephanie |last=Mencimer |title=Dirty Politics |publisher=[[Center for Public Integrity]] |date=30 May 2008 |url=https://www.publicintegrity.org/2008/05/30/3104/dirty-politics}}</ref> The term is frequently used to refer not just to the collection of information but also how it is utilized, as a component of [[negative campaigning]].