The following is me imagining that I'm Karl Rove . . .
June and July are important months for congressional candidates running against incumbents. Yes, they're times to raise money so that you can get your message across to voters. And they're critical in building an organization that will help you finish ahead of the opposition on Election Day.
However, perhaps even more critical than an organization and finance is your strategy and tactics. Strategy relates to your goal: is it to win, or is it to make a statement? Is your aim to win the race, or is it to build a foundation for a future win?
Tactics are the actions you'll take to achieve your goal. Distributing yard signs is a tactic, and so is making buys for TV and/or radio ads. The general principle is: don't spend any money unless you're darn sure it's going to get your votes. Don't spend it because some consultant told you to do so.
Basically, you need to determine where you're strong -- and where you're not. Basically, you're asking: what individuals and groups are for me and which aren't? Also, where can you build on your support -- and how many resources should you expend in doing so?
Because the time between now and election -- and it may seem almost endless now -- is in fact finite, you're forced to make choices. If working an area hard for a week might net you 50 additional votes, you need to ask if it's worth it. If there's another area where you might get 100 votes for a week's effort, then you should devote your time and resources there.
There's a tendency in politics to spend a great deal of time picking low-hanging fruit. I've been in phone sessions that focus on calling registered Republicans to make sure they vote. That's fine, but if your need as a candidate to get votes from Independents and moderate Democrats, it probably makes more sense to call them. In fact, it may make the most sense to ask them face-to-face.
The best way to get someone's vote is to ask them for it. If he or she resists, provide the person with a good reason to vote for you.
It's okay to ask in apparently unusual places. In the Republican presidential primaries, Mike Huckabee was the only Republican to accept an invitation to address the International Order of Machinists. The head of Machinists said Huckabee had made a good decision. Why? Because more than one-third of the Machinists were registered Republicans. (That would mean a good number of them were Independents.)
More to come on Monday a.m. (or earlier), including "make them an argument they can't refuse"
Showing posts with label Mike Huckabee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mike Huckabee. Show all posts
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Huckabee Backers: Support Hart, Gilhooley
I sent the following to Larry Perrault. He's an important political thinker/activist/blogger/social conservative in Houston, Texas. He was a significant and effective supporter of Gov. Mike Huckabee and now endorses John McCain. I'm trying to get him and other Huckabee advocates interested/involved in some of our fascinating races in Pennsylvania (McCain, Melissa Hart, Toni Gilhooley, Marina Kats, Mike Livingston, and others).
Larry, Kathy Morrison is absolutely one of the best people going with Internet politics -- an extremely helpful woman that I'm trying to put in touch with several of my "adopted" congressional candidates. People like Kathy and Sharon Caliendo do not recommend spending a gazillion dollars on TV. Instead, they advocate some low-cost ways of "building the circles" -- making small circles of support into large ones that start "smelling like victory."
Two of the candidates I'm backing (Hart and Gilhooley) are running against incumbent Democrats who masquerade at "moderate-conservative" Democrats. Thus, my candidates need to do the difficult task of "re-branding" their opponents as backers of people like Obama, Pelosi, and Murtha (which in fact they are).
The only things that truly work well in politics are simple things, and "outing" liberals who swear they're conservatives is not a simple task.
Remember (actually, nobody's old enough to) when Harry Truman ran against "the do-nothing Congress." Well, he didn't run for or against very much else, but as Gov. Dewey found in 1948, the "do nothing Congress" was a powerful image/slogan.
I'm delighted that Melissa Hart is running "against" Obama (and her opponent's flirtation with the Illinois Senator) and Nancy Pelosi, whom Jason Altmire backed for Speaker of the House.
Coincidentally (or not), Toni Gilhooley's opponent, Tim Holden, also voted for Ms. Pelosi, from San Francisco (a town that Pennsylvanians place somewhere between Sodom and Gomorrah). Altmire has not been able to make up his mind between Obama and Clinton.
If I were Toni, I would be telling everybody in Harrisburg and parts east that Tim Holden can't make up his mind between Obama and Clinton, both of whom are "totally unacceptable to the people of central Pennsylvania."
Both Altmire and Holden apparently have relatively high "favorables," but that will change if Melissa and Toni can portray them for what their votes truly indicate they are: Nancy Pelosi's "groupies.' Melissa and Toni need to keep the Democrats constantly on the defensive by blasting them for "the company that they keep."
Obama criticized Pennsylvanians for clinging to Christianity, guns, racism, and xenophobia. Does Congressman Altmire agree or disagree? I hope she asks him that face-to-face. I expect Mrs. Gilhooley will do the same with Holden.
John McCain should win Melissa's district by something in the range of 56-57% to 44% to 43%. (Bush won the district by 54-45). Thus, McCain will be an extremely important "shadow figure" in Melissa's campaign.
In 2006, the DNC, Altmire, and 527s tried to tar Melissa by linking her to Bush and Santorum, and they had some success. I assure you Altmire and friends are NOT going to associate her with McCain. I'm currently going around talking about the "McCain-Hart ticket.."
The old saying was, "As Maine goes, so goes the nation." I believe that as McCain goes in western Pennsylvania (and he should go very well), so goes the marvellous Ms. Hart.
John McCain should win Toni Gilhooley's district by perhaps 59% to 60% against 41% or 40%. Bush won in 2004 by 58% to 42% There are early signs that Obama could lay a huge egg in Pennsylvania.
Again, as John McCain goes, so goes Toni Gilhooley. The key is to get across to voters that a vote for Tim Holden is a vote for Barack Obama (the probable nominee). Toni need to drive home the point that it makes no sense to vote John McCain and then to vote for Tim Holden.
Larry (Perrault), you are one of the more articulate pro-life spokesmen in the country. Melissa Hart and Toni Gilhooley are staunchly pro-life and have the moral fortitude to advance that cause in DC.
Altmire claims to be pro-life, but he voted for federal financing of embryonic stem cell research. Holden also claims to be pro-life but he is supporting a Democrat leadership that's relentlessly "pro-death" -- and that won't even allow a vote on any proposal that might in any way advance the cause of life. Altmire and Holden can't continue to have it both ways.
Larry, I hope you and all other Huckabee backers will consider "adopting" these superb candidates. They need support, financial and otherwise, and the key to their gaining such support is that they eminently deserve it. God bless.
Larry, Kathy Morrison is absolutely one of the best people going with Internet politics -- an extremely helpful woman that I'm trying to put in touch with several of my "adopted" congressional candidates. People like Kathy and Sharon Caliendo do not recommend spending a gazillion dollars on TV. Instead, they advocate some low-cost ways of "building the circles" -- making small circles of support into large ones that start "smelling like victory."
Two of the candidates I'm backing (Hart and Gilhooley) are running against incumbent Democrats who masquerade at "moderate-conservative" Democrats. Thus, my candidates need to do the difficult task of "re-branding" their opponents as backers of people like Obama, Pelosi, and Murtha (which in fact they are).
The only things that truly work well in politics are simple things, and "outing" liberals who swear they're conservatives is not a simple task.
Remember (actually, nobody's old enough to) when Harry Truman ran against "the do-nothing Congress." Well, he didn't run for or against very much else, but as Gov. Dewey found in 1948, the "do nothing Congress" was a powerful image/slogan.
I'm delighted that Melissa Hart is running "against" Obama (and her opponent's flirtation with the Illinois Senator) and Nancy Pelosi, whom Jason Altmire backed for Speaker of the House.
Coincidentally (or not), Toni Gilhooley's opponent, Tim Holden, also voted for Ms. Pelosi, from San Francisco (a town that Pennsylvanians place somewhere between Sodom and Gomorrah). Altmire has not been able to make up his mind between Obama and Clinton.
If I were Toni, I would be telling everybody in Harrisburg and parts east that Tim Holden can't make up his mind between Obama and Clinton, both of whom are "totally unacceptable to the people of central Pennsylvania."
Both Altmire and Holden apparently have relatively high "favorables," but that will change if Melissa and Toni can portray them for what their votes truly indicate they are: Nancy Pelosi's "groupies.' Melissa and Toni need to keep the Democrats constantly on the defensive by blasting them for "the company that they keep."
Obama criticized Pennsylvanians for clinging to Christianity, guns, racism, and xenophobia. Does Congressman Altmire agree or disagree? I hope she asks him that face-to-face. I expect Mrs. Gilhooley will do the same with Holden.
John McCain should win Melissa's district by something in the range of 56-57% to 44% to 43%. (Bush won the district by 54-45). Thus, McCain will be an extremely important "shadow figure" in Melissa's campaign.
In 2006, the DNC, Altmire, and 527s tried to tar Melissa by linking her to Bush and Santorum, and they had some success. I assure you Altmire and friends are NOT going to associate her with McCain. I'm currently going around talking about the "McCain-Hart ticket.."
The old saying was, "As Maine goes, so goes the nation." I believe that as McCain goes in western Pennsylvania (and he should go very well), so goes the marvellous Ms. Hart.
John McCain should win Toni Gilhooley's district by perhaps 59% to 60% against 41% or 40%. Bush won in 2004 by 58% to 42% There are early signs that Obama could lay a huge egg in Pennsylvania.
Again, as John McCain goes, so goes Toni Gilhooley. The key is to get across to voters that a vote for Tim Holden is a vote for Barack Obama (the probable nominee). Toni need to drive home the point that it makes no sense to vote John McCain and then to vote for Tim Holden.
Larry (Perrault), you are one of the more articulate pro-life spokesmen in the country. Melissa Hart and Toni Gilhooley are staunchly pro-life and have the moral fortitude to advance that cause in DC.
Altmire claims to be pro-life, but he voted for federal financing of embryonic stem cell research. Holden also claims to be pro-life but he is supporting a Democrat leadership that's relentlessly "pro-death" -- and that won't even allow a vote on any proposal that might in any way advance the cause of life. Altmire and Holden can't continue to have it both ways.
Larry, I hope you and all other Huckabee backers will consider "adopting" these superb candidates. They need support, financial and otherwise, and the key to their gaining such support is that they eminently deserve it. God bless.
Friday, April 4, 2008
PA Huckabee Backers: Support McCain
Note: This weekend (Saturday and Sunday) I'll be contacting people who supported Mike Huckabee for the Republican nomination. I'll be asking hundreds of such people to offer their full support (on their blogs and through contributions) to Senator John McCain. From all indications, Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee. Senator Obama differs from Gov. Huckabee (and John McCain) on every major issue -- from the sanctity of life to the War on Terrorism. As Bill Clinton observed, John McCain has given everything imaginable to his country, "aside from giving his life." He deserves the support of all thoughtful Americans. (Within a few weeks, I'll be contacting supporters of Hillary Clinton and asking them to back John McCain in the general election.)
I'll be back with my regular columns on Monday. Thanks as always for visiting. Your comments are always welcome.
The following material is from Day 1 of John McCain's inspiring "Service to America" tour:
Where the McCain story begins - The family traditions of duty, honor and sacrifice shaped John McCain from an early age and guided his vision for the future. Meridian is the home of McCain Field named after John McCain's grandfather, an admiral in the U.S. Navy.
An excerpt from John McCain's speech in Meridian:
"A distant ancestor served on General Washington's staff, and it seems my ancestors fought in most wars in our nation's history. All were soldiers - both Henry and Bill McCain were West Pointers - until my grandfather broke family tradition and entered the Naval Academy in 1902. He was succeeded there by my father, then me, and then my son."
Click here to read more about day one, including John McCain's full speech, a blog report from the road and the day's video.
The following material is from Day 2 of John McCain's "Service to America" tour:
The Mark of a Man - John McCain describes "the mark of a man," the imprint left on his heart by a once-in-a-lifetime relationship with a teacher whose lessons shaped his ideas about right and wrong, compassion and forgiveness. Alexandria, VA, is the home of Episcopal High School where John McCain attended school.
An excerpt from John McCain's speech in Alexandria follows:
"I doubt I will ever meet another person who had the impact on my life that my English teacher at Episcopal High School did. But I know there are many Americans who should teach and could influence children as beneficially as he did me. All children should have a teacher like I had, who they remember when they have children and grandchildren as one of the most fortunate relationships in their lives."
Click here to read more about day two, including John McCain's speech, blog report from the road and the day's video.
I'll be back with my regular columns on Monday. Thanks as always for visiting. Your comments are always welcome.
The following material is from Day 1 of John McCain's inspiring "Service to America" tour:
Where the McCain story begins - The family traditions of duty, honor and sacrifice shaped John McCain from an early age and guided his vision for the future. Meridian is the home of McCain Field named after John McCain's grandfather, an admiral in the U.S. Navy.
An excerpt from John McCain's speech in Meridian:
"A distant ancestor served on General Washington's staff, and it seems my ancestors fought in most wars in our nation's history. All were soldiers - both Henry and Bill McCain were West Pointers - until my grandfather broke family tradition and entered the Naval Academy in 1902. He was succeeded there by my father, then me, and then my son."
Click here to read more about day one, including John McCain's full speech, a blog report from the road and the day's video.
The following material is from Day 2 of John McCain's "Service to America" tour:
The Mark of a Man - John McCain describes "the mark of a man," the imprint left on his heart by a once-in-a-lifetime relationship with a teacher whose lessons shaped his ideas about right and wrong, compassion and forgiveness. Alexandria, VA, is the home of Episcopal High School where John McCain attended school.
An excerpt from John McCain's speech in Alexandria follows:
"I doubt I will ever meet another person who had the impact on my life that my English teacher at Episcopal High School did. But I know there are many Americans who should teach and could influence children as beneficially as he did me. All children should have a teacher like I had, who they remember when they have children and grandchildren as one of the most fortunate relationships in their lives."
Click here to read more about day two, including John McCain's speech, blog report from the road and the day's video.
Monday, March 24, 2008
CONSERVATIVES NEED TO BACK MCCAIN
Fellow Pennsylvanians and Others: I hope you'll read Larry Perrault's fine essay titled, "Why Conservatives MUST Support John McCain." A Texan, Larry has been a strong and effective supporter of Mike Huckabee, but like the vast majority of people who "like Mike," he's now behind Senator McCain. You can find his piece at: http://larryperrault.blogspot.com. I wrote a long (very long!) comment in response to his piece.
Frankly, Pennsylvanians of all political stripes -- Republican, Independent, and Democratic -- are committed to protecting the sanctity of life. In that effort, Obama is on the wrong side -- and McCain on the right one.
Senator McCain needs your support, your donations, and your vote. He deserves all three.
Frankly, Pennsylvanians of all political stripes -- Republican, Independent, and Democratic -- are committed to protecting the sanctity of life. In that effort, Obama is on the wrong side -- and McCain on the right one.
Senator McCain needs your support, your donations, and your vote. He deserves all three.
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