Paul Revere and the Raiders do a lengthy cameo in this episode as Paul Revere and the Ruders, a local rock group hired by the Penguin to entertain at his campaign fund-raising party. The very popular 1960s group perform two numbers, including an accompaniment to the Penguin to the tune of "Yankee Doodle".
The mayor's pollsters Gallus, Rooper, and Trendek are spoofs of the actual polling organizations Gallup, Roper, and Trendex. Mayor Linseed is a takeoff on NYC mayor John Lindsey, and candidate Harry Goldwinner spoofs presidential candidate Barry Goldwater.
A similar story was used in Tim Burton's Batman Returns (1992) having Oswald Cobblepot (The Penguin) run for mayor of Gotham City. The Batman Adventures comic book in 2003 also published a lengthy story arc in which Cobblepott has been elected Mayor of Gotham and thwarts Batman's efforts to investigate how.
When helping Dick rehearse for "Macbeth", Alfred notes a personal affinity for Shakespeare. Subsequently, Bruce asks Alfred to open the Batcave entrance via the Shakespeare bust, by noting his knowledge of the Bard. Earlier in his career, Alan Napier did extensive acting work in several Shakespearean stage productions as well as playing the Holy Father in Macbeth (1948)
The Penguin's political slogans "Tippecanoe and Pengy Too!" and "All the Way with Pengy" are references to the slogans "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" and "All the Way with LBJ" used in the US presidential election campaigns of William Henry Harrison in 1840 and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 respectively. The latter was the most recent presidential election at the time.