"A dream is a wish your heart makes"
Or something like that.
I think Democrats are invoking that Walt Disney quote as they prepare for a seminar with Montana House Speaker Dave Wanzenried who is going to explain how they turned Red State Montana into a "barely blue" state.
From the SDDP.org website:
But after the gloss wears off the new ideas, are they going to start to look like some good old fashioned campaign sense that they've been ignoring for the past decade? Such as "Rule #1, fill all your ballot positions." They'd likely pick up at least a seat or two just from that.
Speaking of rules, I think I've been down this road before and noted what it takes to be competitive in a campaign. It's not rocket science. Believe me, I've seen some of the people who win office. Some are our true leaders of tomorrow with individuality and vision. And then there's the others go "baaaa" and blindly follow the pack.
But if they follow some basic rules, it's suprisingly easy to get elected in South Dakota. Really, all you have to do is to beat the other guy. It's when the other guy or gal knows the rules as well, that it can turn into a real horse race.
For everything at the Legislative level on down, what are some of the critical rules that I think a candidate needs to follow?
#1 - You must go door to door. To all of them. When you do this, leave a simple campaign card.
And this is coming from someone who at times has a borderline social anxiety problem. If I could get a prescription for Paxil, I might be able to go door to door. But when I got my butt kicked for city commission over a decade ago, I had a serious motivational issue with it. I could not force myself to go for myself. Anyone else, no problem. It was just hard for myself. It must have been my Catholic upbringing reminding me to be humble. (dammit).
Actually, people are usually pretty friendly. It's just forcing yourself to get over that hump. Once you get over it, you're on your way to easy street. (And remember to wear a clean shirt and polish your shoes). But you HAVE to go door to door.
#2 - Raise your money early. Spend it early and work backwards.
This last election, I had a candidate who was had literally two thousand dollars total thrown at him by about five or six people. Except it was the weekend before the election. That was all well and good, but when the media people are home for the weekend, it's pretty tough to buy media spots.
You need that money early. And you need to target your buys starting on election day and work backwards towards the present. Way too many people forget this. They come out with authority, and then peter out at the end when the smart candidates advertising is just getting started.
And people don't pay attention to the election until two weeks ahead of time anyway. So why blow the cash up front?
#3 - Speaking of money, you need to spend some. Because not everyone knows you.
You cannot win by spending $50 or $100. Period. And as much as you think people know you, they don't. So you need to work on your name ID. Win a few times, and you can probably do some issue related stuff. But they need to know your name first.
And that costs money for advertising. Plan on heavy advertising during the last two weeks of the election on every media available in your area. Radio, Newsprint, TV.
#4 - The candidate is not the manager.
(I don't think I've said that in the past few weeks) The candidate is not the manager. The candidate is not the manager. The candidate is not the manager. Rinse and repeat.
Just like the attorney who defends himself, the candidate who manages himself is as foolish. The Candidate is that. A candidate. The manager handles the details. And the twain should not meet.
#5 - Set goals on a timeline and meet them. And write it down.
Get a calendar and note what you're going to have done by what date, and do your best to follow it. It's about as basic as a campaign plan as you're going to get. It provides at least some semblance of organization to something that may be structured very loosely.
That's about all the advice I'm full of at 11pm - but take a few of those points to heart - and you're going to be farther along than most of your opponents.
From the SDDP.org website:
Twelve years ago, Montana looked like South Dakota. Bright Red! Republicans held a big majority in the State Senate and the House of Representatives, most Constitutional Offices were held by Republicans; and the Governor was a Republican. Sound familiar? Today Democrats hold a 27 to 23 majority in the Montana Senate. The Montana House is evenly split, 50 Democrats - 50 Republicans. Democrats hold many Constitutional Offices. Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer was elected by more than 20,000 votes in 2004. Progressive and responsive state government has returned to Montana.OK. I'll certainly give credit where credit is due for the SDDP thinking outside of the box, and bringing in someone from out of state for some new ideas, since they've been down on their electoral luck as of late. New ideas can't hurt them any.
The same thing can happen in South Dakota. Join us on Friday, November 11th in Rapid City and Saturday, November 12th in Sioux Falls to start working on a plan to turn South Dakota Blue just like Montana did. Dave Wanzenried, Democratic Leader in the Montana House, will be in Sioux Falls to help us as we prepare to bring progressive and responsive state government back to South Dakota.
But after the gloss wears off the new ideas, are they going to start to look like some good old fashioned campaign sense that they've been ignoring for the past decade? Such as "Rule #1, fill all your ballot positions." They'd likely pick up at least a seat or two just from that.
Speaking of rules, I think I've been down this road before and noted what it takes to be competitive in a campaign. It's not rocket science. Believe me, I've seen some of the people who win office. Some are our true leaders of tomorrow with individuality and vision. And then there's the others go "baaaa" and blindly follow the pack.
But if they follow some basic rules, it's suprisingly easy to get elected in South Dakota. Really, all you have to do is to beat the other guy. It's when the other guy or gal knows the rules as well, that it can turn into a real horse race.
For everything at the Legislative level on down, what are some of the critical rules that I think a candidate needs to follow?
#1 - You must go door to door. To all of them. When you do this, leave a simple campaign card.
And this is coming from someone who at times has a borderline social anxiety problem. If I could get a prescription for Paxil, I might be able to go door to door. But when I got my butt kicked for city commission over a decade ago, I had a serious motivational issue with it. I could not force myself to go for myself. Anyone else, no problem. It was just hard for myself. It must have been my Catholic upbringing reminding me to be humble. (dammit).
Actually, people are usually pretty friendly. It's just forcing yourself to get over that hump. Once you get over it, you're on your way to easy street. (And remember to wear a clean shirt and polish your shoes). But you HAVE to go door to door.
#2 - Raise your money early. Spend it early and work backwards.
This last election, I had a candidate who was had literally two thousand dollars total thrown at him by about five or six people. Except it was the weekend before the election. That was all well and good, but when the media people are home for the weekend, it's pretty tough to buy media spots.
You need that money early. And you need to target your buys starting on election day and work backwards towards the present. Way too many people forget this. They come out with authority, and then peter out at the end when the smart candidates advertising is just getting started.
And people don't pay attention to the election until two weeks ahead of time anyway. So why blow the cash up front?
#3 - Speaking of money, you need to spend some. Because not everyone knows you.
You cannot win by spending $50 or $100. Period. And as much as you think people know you, they don't. So you need to work on your name ID. Win a few times, and you can probably do some issue related stuff. But they need to know your name first.
And that costs money for advertising. Plan on heavy advertising during the last two weeks of the election on every media available in your area. Radio, Newsprint, TV.
#4 - The candidate is not the manager.
(I don't think I've said that in the past few weeks) The candidate is not the manager. The candidate is not the manager. The candidate is not the manager. Rinse and repeat.
Just like the attorney who defends himself, the candidate who manages himself is as foolish. The Candidate is that. A candidate. The manager handles the details. And the twain should not meet.
#5 - Set goals on a timeline and meet them. And write it down.
Get a calendar and note what you're going to have done by what date, and do your best to follow it. It's about as basic as a campaign plan as you're going to get. It provides at least some semblance of organization to something that may be structured very loosely.
That's about all the advice I'm full of at 11pm - but take a few of those points to heart - and you're going to be farther along than most of your opponents.
Comments
Get that phrased better. It's a keeper..maybe.
George Mikkelson(sp?) did the knock on doors thing well. I never voted for him, but I also won't forget him knocking on our door in a snowstorm asking for our support..well, actually my mother-in-laws support..the only unrepentant Republican in the house.
Good advice here. Now, if the Democrats can persuade themselves it is coming from somebody in DC in a 3-piece suit made in France and wearing Italian shoes.........