PoliticsArtgraphic designAmerican Elections

These Are The Best Presidential Campaign Posters Of All Time

Jimmy Carter as Jesus. Enough said.
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By 

Photo Fellow, The Huffington Post

Advertising campaigns are a critical part of any successful American presidential election. As you can see below, U.S. presidential races have yielded some interesting campaign posters.

From hand-etched, antique lithographs to posters inspired by the modernism of the "Mad Men" advertising era, these designs are anything but boring. 

Photo 12 via Getty Images
Campaign poster for Jimmy Carter, circa 1976.
Kean Collection via Getty Images
Campaign poster for Richard Nixon, sponsored by "Young Voters For the President," circa 1972.
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Campaign poster for William McKinley, circa 1900.
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"I Like Ike" water decal from the presidential campaign of Dwight Eisenhower, circa 1952.
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Poster for the presidential ticket of Eugene V. Debs and Ben Hanford; lithograph, circa 1904.
MPI via Getty Images
Campaign poster for Theodore Roosevelt, circa 1904.
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Campaign poster for Richard Nixon, circa 1968.
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Campaign banner for Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin that spells Lincoln's first name as "Abram." The banner consists of a 33-star American flag pattern printed on cloth, circa 1860.
MPI via Getty Images
Campaign poster for James M. Cox and Franklin D. Roosevelt, circa 1920.
Kean Collection via Getty Images
Campaign poster for Richard Nixon, circa 1972.
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Campaign poster for Barack Obama designed by Shepard Fairey, circa 2008.
Boston Globe via Getty Images
Campaign poster for John F. Kennedy, circa 1960.
Kean Collection via Getty Images
Campaign poster for Theodore Roosevelt, circa 1904.
Universal History Archive via Getty Images
Campaign poster for Benjamin Harrison, circa 1888.
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Campaign banner for Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore, circa 1849.
Universal History Archive via Getty Images
Campaign poster for Grover Cleveland and Allen G. Thurman, circa 1888.
Universal History Archive via Getty Images
Campaign poster featuring Grover Cleveland and his wife, Frances Cleveland, circa 1888.
Boston Globe via Getty Images
Campaign poster for Herbert Hoover, circa 1928.
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Campaign poster for William McKinley, circa 1900.
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Campaign poster for Grover Cleveland and Allen G. Thurman, circa 1888.
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Campaign poster for Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendricks, circa 1884.

Presidential Campaign Posters, a 2012 publication of the Library of Congress, examines these and other posters and their effect on the electoral vote.  

Also on HuffPost:

Most Awkward Moments On The 2016 Campaign Trail
Hillary Clinton(01 of34)
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Hillary Clinton greets, talks and takes pictures with her Iowa organizers during a pizza party in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 17, 2015.

 (credit:Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Jeb Bush(02 of34)
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Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush greets supporters following remarks at Dennis Albaugh's Classic Car Barn during the Polk County GOP Annual Summer Sizzle event Aug. 13, 2015 in Ankeny, Iowa.

 (credit:Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Ben Carson(03 of34)
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Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson speaks to the media before speaking at a gala for the Black Republican Caucus of South Florida at PGA National Resort on Nov. 6, 2015, in Palm Beach, Florida. (credit:Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Chris Christie(04 of34)
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie kisses a supporter after announcing his bid for the U.S. presidency at Livingston High School in Livingston, New Jersey, on June 30, 2015.

 (credit:Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)
GOP Candidates(05 of34)
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Republican presidential hopefuls Donald Trump (center) and Ted Cruz (right) check their watches as Ben Carson (left) looks on during a break in the Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas on Dec. 15, 2015. (credit:Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)
Bernie Sanders(06 of34)
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Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) participates in an Internet live stream discussion about putting families first in developing immigration policy at his campaign office on Dec. 7, 2015, in Washington, D.C. (credit:Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Scott Walker(07 of34)
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Republican presidential hopeful Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker washes down a "cheezborger" with a Schlitz beer at the famed Billy Goat Tavern during a campaign stop on July 27, 2015, in Chicago.

 (credit:Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Martin O'Malley(08 of34)
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Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley meets with gun safety advocates on Sept. 14, 2015, in New York City. (credit:Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Carly Fiorina(09 of34)
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Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina speaks to the media before a town hall meeting Oct. 2, 2015, in Aiken, South Carolina. (credit:Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Marco Rubio(10 of34)
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Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) reacts as a child unsuccessfully catches a football during a Family Night event at Dean Park in Ankeny, Iowa, on Aug. 17, 2015.

 (credit:Al Drago/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images)
Ted Cruz(11 of34)
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Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) eats a pork chop at the Iowa State Fair on August 21, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa.

 (credit:Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Ben Carson(12 of34)
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Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson (left) poses for a photo with a fairgoer while touring the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 16, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. (credit:Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Ted Cruz(13 of34)
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Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks during a campaign rally at the Siena Community Center on Dec. 17, 2015, in Las Vegas. (credit:Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Bernie Sanders(14 of34)
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Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), right, and Martin O'Malley are introduced at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on Oct. 24, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. The dinner is a major fundraiser for Iowa's Democratic Party. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Marco Rubio(15 of34)
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Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) greets fairgoers while touring the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 18, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa.

 (credit:Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Scott Walker(16 of34)
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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker rides in a Roast and Ride event hosted by freshman Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) on June 6, 2015, near Boone, Iowa.

 (credit:Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Bernie Sanders(17 of34)
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Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) greets supporters gathered for a meet-and-greet fundraising reception at the Park West on Aug. 17, 2015, in Chicago.

 (credit:Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Jeb Bush(18 of34)
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Republican presidential hopeful and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush eats a deep-fried Snickers bar during the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 14, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa.

 (credit:Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Carly Fiorina(19 of34)
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Carly Fiorina, former chairman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard Co. and a 2016 Republican presidential candidate, drinks lemonade while touring the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, on Aug. 17, 2015.

 (credit:Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Ben Carson(20 of34)
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Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson answers questions from members of the press after delivering brief remarks to supporters at the King Street Retail Walk on Oct. 16, 2015, in Alexandria, Virginia. (credit:Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Martin O'Malley(21 of34)
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Democratic presidential hopeful and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley speaks to a fairgoer during the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 13, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa.

 (credit:Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
(22 of34)
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ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 13: Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) takes a drink of water as he speaks during the Sunshine Summit conference being held at the Rosen Shingle Creek on November 13, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. The summit brought Republican presidential candidates in front of the Republican voters. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (credit:Joe Raedle via Getty Images)
(23 of34)
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MEET THE PRESS -- Pictured: (l-r) New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie appears on 'Meet the Press' in Washington, D.C., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015. (Photo by: William B. Plowman/NBC/NBC NewsWire via Getty Images) (credit:NBC NewsWire via Getty Images)
Hillary Clinton(24 of34)
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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to north Las Vegas voters at a town hall meeting on Aug. 18, 2015.

(credit:Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Donald Trump(25 of34)
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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump eats a pork chop on a stick at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 15, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa.

 (credit:Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Bernie Sanders(26 of34)
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Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks during the Democratic National Committee 22nd Annual Women's Leadership Forum National Issues Conference at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 23, 2015. (credit:Leigh Vogel/WireImage via Getty Images)
Chris Christie(27 of34)
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie greets supporters after announcing his bid for the U.S. presidency at Livingston High School in Livingston, New Jersey, on June 30, 2015.

 (credit:Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)
Jeb Bush(28 of34)
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Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush greets well-wishers after speaking to a crowd of supporters June 17, 2015, in Pella, Iowa.

 (credit:Steve Pope/Getty Images)
Carly Fiorina(29 of34)
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Carly Fiorina, former chairman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard Co. and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, left, fist-bumps an employee while touring the Stellar Industries production facilities during a campaign stop in Garner, Iowa, on Aug. 14, 2015.

 (credit:Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Ted Cruz(30 of34)
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Presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks at the kick-off rally for his Cruz Country bus tour of the South at Liberty Tap Room in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, on Aug. 7, 2015.

 (credit:Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images)
Hillary Clinton(31 of34)
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Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton signs a T-shirt on the back of a member of her staff while greeting voters at a political house party in Beaverdale, Iowa, on July 25, 2015.

 (credit:Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Scott Walker(32 of34)
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Scott Walker, governor of Wisconsin and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, eats a pork chop at the Iowa Pork Producers booth during the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, on Aug. 17, 2015.

 (credit:Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Bernie Sanders(33 of34)
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Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) gather at a watch party for a presidential debate sponsored by CNN and Facebook at Wynn Las Vegas on Oct. 13, 2015, in Las Vegas. (credit:Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Carly Fiorina(34 of34)
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Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina greets supporters in the halls of the New Hampshire State House as she arrived to file for the state ballot on Nov. 5, 2015, in Concord, New Hampshire. (credit:Don Emmert/AFP via Getty Images)

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