3 Keys to Turning Red Towns Blue

Great ideas, Matt, but... (0.00 / 0)

The state committee hardly knows we exist out here. Pigs will be filing flight plans before they even begin to consider hiring anybody for anything out here.

Consider this: a friend of mine ran for state office out here. How much did he get from the state committee, money, help, whatever?

Bupkis.

Such is the state of things at the NJDSC, when it comes to The Broccoli.

The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

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by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 01:59:14 AM UTC

Exactly.... (4.00 / 1)

my reasoning for writing this diary.  Trying to introduce a different line of thought for Republican areas.  

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by: Matthew Jordan @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 02:30:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Doorbells and Challengers (4.00 / 2)

Doorbells my good man.   I've participated in wins and even more losses.  I've seen a town go 7-R to 7-D in  4 years.

Candidates who will ring doorbells.  Lots of them.  Expet to spend June - November breaking a sweat and soaking your feet.  It is easier in Bergenfield where houses are closer than it would be in say, Greenwood Lake, but still must be done.  If they don't see you, and you aren't an incumbent, they aren't going to vote for you.  

Next most important thing is challengers at the election polling places, who count the voters, and then you call the people that iddn't vote yet.

Doorbells and Challengers...The rest of the stuff, lawn signs, mailers, newspaper ads, etc, is down in the priorty list compared to doorbelling and challengers.  

Watch 'county campaign managers' often their advice does not work in local setting.  

And in local races - drop the 'Democrat' stuff.  You'll get those partisan votes at the ballot box.  You'll need votes from McCain voters.

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by: CouncilmanBruceCarlson @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 14:00:19 PM UTC

That is the point: (0.00 / 0)

if they have campaign managers to handle all of the other things they can spend more time engaging voters.  

Where do I say 'county campaign managers' should be hired? I state that campaign managers should be hired who have municipal experience.  

Finally, where do I state that they should stress partisan affiliations and not the issues?  

If you've seen a town go from 7-R to 7-D maybe you should be writing a diary on how you did it to help other red Bergen County municipal parties.    

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by: Matthew Jordan @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 18:03:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

some of the advice is not in answer (4.00 / 2)

to your post but  my own original advice, based  on how i perceive many new democratic caniddates get started (including myself, when i started running) Even where guys have 'D' next to their name, they might have become an r long ago.  I got laughed off somebody's staircase once when I showed them they were a D.  They said that was when Truman was President.   But on local matters, show them you can govern and you are fine.  There's a saying about their being  no Republican or Democrat way to pick up garbage, and its kinda true.

Find a big local issue, your reason for running that you can reasonably affect when you get in.

point taken on muni experience.. didn't take notice, but based on some bad experiences..I would still caution some warriness about professional consultants.  There are still local issues and knowledge of people that can be helpful....people you must have in your corner, etc.    But anyone who is a *buster is a real help that like you say can free up the caniddates to dooerbell.

I could do a diary - i tend to lurk and comment on diaries that interest me.  Yours seems a fine vehicle.  i do stress my role is partly observer, partly participant and by no means mastermind.  Still if i wrote a diary
Door Bells and Challengers would be the title.  Sounds simple, but how many football teams have failed to block and tackle?  I've seen it make the difference both ways. (Yes, sometimes with me on the ticket) winning and losing.

I guess finding the Big Local Issue would be the next thing.

Then the mailers, lawn signs etc.

I wish anyone good luck tyring to turn a red town blue, and where i completely and utterly agree is FOCUS ON THE TOWNS- that's the way to do it.  

 

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by: CouncilmanBruceCarlson @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 19:59:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

IV Run on IDEAS (4.00 / 1)

Fill your campaign literature with your plans and ideas. Don't give the other guys any press if you can help it.  Use every drop of campaign ink on you and your ideas.  Oh - and good, sturdy shoes.  That don't hurt if you walk in them 12 hours straight on asphalt while explaining your ideas at every door you knock on.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Wed Feb 25, 2009 at 02:48:05 AM UTC

Improved Tactics Alone Won't Do The Trick.... (0.00 / 0)

...though they are helpful!

What's needed is for Democrats to be real reformers, real progressives and to be able to articulate their sincerity in the form of real/solid/specific legislation that offers big change.

If folks are running for office to get rich or to simply feed their power lust; then they should always lose......and that applies to Democrats as well as Republicans.

If the acquisition of personal wealth and power is your schtick, you don't belong in public service.   (Frankly, you don't belong in the private sector either...but that's another discussion ;-)  

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by: Nick Lento @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 15:20:13 PM UTC