retail politics

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. a political strategy or campaign style of meeting and speaking directly to as many voters as possible.

   New Hampshire is a state where retail politics are decisive.

   Not every candidate is good at retail politics.

retail politics

noun

1. informal,  (functioning as plural) the practice of a politician soliciting in person for votes from the public

Word History and Origins

Origin of retail politics¹

First recorded in 1900–05; in the sense of “politics in which votes are for sale”