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Stevepol

(4,234 posts)
Wed Nov 5, 2014, 06:09 AM Nov 2014

The secret to campaign success

is not "fighting against the Republicans right-wing agenda."

The KEY to success is to fight FOR Democratic values and not just Democratic "political" values but universal values of peace (which means "creative living" since that's what produces peace as a side effect) and hope and oneness with all humanity.

If you're caught up in a creative process of living in your own life, you don't have time to worry about what the obstructionists and nay-sayers are doing. They will always be there and they will always fail in the long run. They are trying to find the negative in you. Don't give them energy by paying attention to their efforts to get attention. THAT'S NOT OUR BUSINESS. FOCUS ON THE GOOD THAT WE ARE ENVISIONING: a just society, a creative society and a creative life personally, raising the average person's income, overcoming poverty, and a million other positive and hopeful goals. Be as specific as possible.

Another thing to be FOR is encouraging and appreciating the efforts of other Democrats, not refusing to support them, not pretending that the good that has already been done doesn't exist and thinking that by ignoring these positive achievements we will fool voters into thinking we are what we're not. TRUTH IS ON OUR SIDE AND WILL HELP US IF WE STICK TO IT AND STICK TOGETHER. LOOK FOR THE GOOD. Other Dems too have a positive agenda in mind, maybe not as big a vision or awareness that you have but they are striving for GOOD. ENCOURAGE THEM AND DON'T IGNORE THEM IF CHALLENGED. Dems in office and especially the president have positive achievements to praise and hold onto. They are more than life rafts: they are rescue helicopters. Don't let go.

Now all this doesn't mean you can't be clever and wise in the way you phrase your support, and if you are directly challenged you might need to remind others of their own weaknesses by turning the challenge on the challenger. This is a game where you have to hit back and hit hard. For example, if an opponent asks you directly who you voted for so as to associate you in the voters' minds with the president, you should immediately say, "I'm a Democrat. Of course I voted for the President. I have some areas where I disagree with him as I do with every politician but I support his efforts to bring good to America. Look at what he has brought us (a constant increase in employment, the ACA, and detail the good here, the stimulus, etc. etc.). I assume you voted for Romney. Would General Motors have survived if he had won the election?

Is that so difficult? Stay positive in message, stay on message, NEVER AVOID A CHALLENGE but TURN THE CHALLENGE AGAINST THE CHALLENGER by using FACTS, don't lower your head and keep your mouth shut for fear of being associated with a fellow Dem.

Finally, if you are running for office, get rid of the political advisers who believe in nothing except their own cynical views of human nature. Get in touch with your own positive agenda and follow your own intuition in how to deal with the political nuances of a campaign.

This was a very useful election cycle if we learn from it. Let's do it.

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The secret to campaign success (Original Post) Stevepol Nov 2014 OP
Campaigns Are Expensive & They're Using Their Money Wrong SophieKoko Dec 2014 #1

SophieKoko

(17 posts)
1. Campaigns Are Expensive & They're Using Their Money Wrong
Sun Dec 21, 2014, 03:38 PM
Dec 2014
Many studies have shown that campaigns, which emphasize person-to-person connections, get more voters to turn out for candidates. Investing in some high-quality connections (not just half-hearted knocks on doors) work way better than TV ads, phone calls, and mailings. One in-person conversation can increase turnout by 20 percent--approximately 9 percentage points.

But instead politicians are spending all their campaign money on ads: http://www.stampstampede.org/blogs/stampstampede/16108632-campaigns-are-expensive-theyre-using-their-money-wrong
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