Lexicon of Politics: Day 49

permanent campaign n. a nonstop pursuit of funds and votes, esp. when not associated with a specific race for campaign; (hence) occupying oneself more with self-promotion than with executing the duties of an office.

1993 Los Angeles Times (Apr. 4) 2:
Clinton is running a permanent campaign--town halls, speaking tours, call-in shows and meetings with children. All on television.
oxford dictionary of american political slang




Lee Atwater in his dissertation observed that Harry Truman was the first president to engage in the permanent campaign.