Political High

I’ve talked about yard signs in a previous post.  I’m luke warm about them.  Everyone seems to think you have to have them or your campaign is screwed.

What I’ve learned at campaign management camp suggests otherwise.

In fact, in 2006, here in South Dakota, the anti-abortion measure folks probably had far more yard signs than votes.  With another anti-abortion measure on the ballot in South Dakota again (yes, that’s pretty much all we vote on here), they again lead the yard sign fight.  But they lost in 2006 and they’ll probably lose again in 2008.

I’ve seen them with supporters having maybe ten yard signs-the same yard sign–in one yard.

Apparently they subscribe to the “if a little bit will do a little good a lot will do a lot of good” theory of political tactics.

I don’t agree.  Not because I’m on the other side of their issue, but because I don’t think it is effective.

In a ballot measure like abortion, it is well known.  Unlike a couty commissioner candidate no one may know, everyone knows there are two ways to vote on the iss–yes or no.

I think a better use of yard sign repitition madness money is through door to door canvassing, paid media, or direct mail.

I can’t imagine the same ten pictures of the same baby in my neighbor’s yard is going to be the difference between winning and losing.  Seems like that’s an approach where you bury–not enhance–your message.

I’m a firm believer in “less is more” advertising.

It’s a week out until election day.

And finally, you get some major money from a donor or two.

Geez, it would have been nice to have this in August or even at the beginning of October!

But there’s the big check.

What can you do?

Emily’s List is famous for “Early Money Is Like Yeast.”  The early money does the most good because it can help you plan better and shows other contributor’s your campaign is for real.

But money in a campaign is always good.

Here are six suggestions as to what you could do:

1. The easiest thing is to increase what you are already going to do.  Going to buy a three column newspaper ad? Make it a five column ad.  Going to buy ten radio spots/day?  See if you can buy 15 or 20/day. Going to send out 5,000 post cards?  Send out 7,500.
2. If you’re not buying radio time, consider it.  Radio spots can be produced quickly and inserted into a schedule fairly easily.  I am a huge fan of radio for many races (that’s another post).
3. If you are comfortably ahead and your campaign laws allow it, bank it for the next campaign.
4. If you are comfortably ahead and your campaign laws allow it, use it to assist other candidates, particularly if you are running in a district that sends two or more of you to the legislature or the commission.  You will helping yourself and earning chits that you can cash in in the future.
5. Is there a college campus that you would do well in but you haven’t had the cash to hire and organizer?  Find a college student to do a crash GOTV program and or hold a GOTV party on campus, encouraging early voting and voting.
6. Provide win bonuses to your key campaign staff.  They’ll love you and want to work for you again.  Even if you lose and you’re close, call it a “near win bonus.”

Hopefully, this is a “problem” you’ll have in the next seven days!