Sabato contends that with all this power to decide which issues should be allowed on the agenda or discussed and with such a broad spectrum of control, they have very little accountability with the public, politics or American democracy. Political consultants have, in actuality, few enemies which can do them harm. The candidates do not want to bash any consultant for several reasons. The mass media is also an ally of the political consultant. Political consultants are a necessity for any politician who hopes to gain a political office and remain in that position or to move up the ladder in the political arena because campaigns have become so complex that most politicians do not feel that those who are in their circle of supporters have the ability or tools necessary for them to lead the campaign, so they hire a professional consultant to help the politician gain office.
Political consultants can aide the politician in many ways.
They survey the constituency of the politician and make issue decisions, arrange voter turnout, fund raising activities, damage control when necessary, advertising, marketing, and many other functions necessary to assure the politician a successful outcome on election day. Politicians feel they cannot keep or obtain their job without the aide of consultants. The campaigns are long and difficult and candidates need someone or a group to organize, control, research and evaluate the process. Politicians do not have the experience or time to perform these functions on their own and hope to be successful in their campaign. Every candidate needs a consultant if for no other reason than that everyone else has them.