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Welcome to the liveblog of the White House Project panel: White House Project Training Session – Your Campaign Blueprint. Kathryn started her presentation asking who has run, wants to run, etc. to get a sense of the audience. She asked us to consider putting laptops down. (I think maybe three people did.)
Ready to run? Think about your reasons why, your experience and qualifications, what preparations you have started to put in place. "I guarantee you there is a position out there that is perfect for you." Do some self-analysis. Look at your strengths, accomplishments, likes. (Kathryn has no interest in running because she has no interest in the actual job of being an elected official, but she likes fundraising.) Think about your weaknesses. Are you really good at talking to people, but less sure of yourself in policy details? Are you a good writer, but not a great speaker?
Think about who your connections are. You need to be able to bring together a diverse coalition of people to elect you. If you're running for a tiny city council seat, a diverse coalition will look different from running statewide. If you're mostly hanging out with the PTA, you might want to think about the homeowners association. Diversify your connections. Evaluate your finances. Are you comfortable having public records being open? Is your employment situation such that you can add in the scheduling needs of a campaign?
Political analysis: think about your district. Know what's out there as options. Think about what's happened in past elections. Are voters used to seeing people like you on the ballot? What's the party registration like? How often do people cross party lines to vote? What's the usual turnout? Who else will be on the ballot? And think about the local laws that regulate running for office. Also note that political consultants could be "full of shit." They may not always have correct data. Make sure to dig.
We had a slight interlude with a discussion about building a plan - whether it's a two-year plan to run or a 10-year plan to run, make a plan with a trajectory. That's what the men who are serious do. Although the flip side of that - be ready to take an opportunity if it comes up.
Next, build a strong foundation. Know your community. Connect, connect, connect, and then follow up with people. It's just like marketing 101. These are people you'll ask for money, ask to volunteer, etc.. Engage civically. Vote. In all elections. And show up at meetings, raise your hands and ask the city council members questions. Know the insiders. You don't need to be at all of the meetings, but these people need to know you're someone special. Also, help others. People in office remember who raised money and volunteered for them. Think about your network and pay attention.
Watch your public persona. Be aware of what it is. Don't try to change it - just be aware of what it is. Know what others think of you in that way and be able to deal with it.
Questions you may be asking: who will run my campaign, can I work with the other people in office where I would be, how will I get the money? Questions you really need to ask: who do I need to vote for me? And how do I get their votes? What methods do I need to use to contact people? Every decision you make in your campaign can come back to these two questions.
Goals -> Strategy -> Tactics
People often get bogged-down in tactics. Things you do to win elections. The candidate says: "Oh my god, my opponent has 4,000 yard signs and if I don't get 5,000, I'm going to lose!" But where are you really going? Think of your goal first (I want to get to the grand canyon), determine an appropriate strategy (I need to map the way), then look at the tactics (I have to drive, so I'll get a car and put gas in it.)
There are a lot more reasons to run a campaign than to win. First, to get issues out there. Second, to increase your name recognition. Third, to build up for a stronger campaign next time. If one candidate is a huge environmental activist, she can raise the discourse on certain issues.
Strategic example: Contact Republican women with a message about your opponent's record on education. Tactics include knocking on doors, sending out mailers, etc.
Targeting voters, there are people who never vote, sometimes
