Baby kissing

Baby kissing is a practice where politicians kiss babies in order to garner public support. The practice appears to have originated during the era of Jacksonian democracy along with other techniques such as "banners, badges, parades, barbecues, free drinks and baby kissing [which were used] in an effort to 'get out the vote'".^[1] City and county office candidates may frequently practice baby kissing on the campaign trail, but on the state and federal levels this is rare or even discouraged, as expressed by the administrations of U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, and recently Barack Obama.^[2]

References

1. Bailey, Thomas A. et al. The American Pageant. Eleventh edition. New York: Houghin Mifflin Company, 1998. 259.
2. https://ronepraisephilly.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/7516491752_1cfcf44cff.jpg