Political High

Let’s say like one of the Ghostbusters, you’ve been slimed.

But not by a ghost but by your opponent in the last days of the campaign.

You can’t cross the beams, as that might cause the end of the earth.  So what can you do to respond to a scurilous, untrue, or dirty attack at the last minute by your opponent?

Here are five ideas of what to do.

1. Plan ahead.  You probably had a sneaking suspicion months ago.  Your “conversation box” (another future post) may have pointed it out.  But you know–or should know–what you might be vulnerable on in terms of the issues or personally.
2. Have a response ready, even if you don’t need it.  Anticipate the attack and have a radio ad, flyer, your own robo calls, or postcard ready to go.  Yes, it might cost money.  But can you afford not to?  Also have volunteers ready to go.  If the attack doesn’t materialize, use them for a final lit drop push instead.
3. Hit the press and blogs hard.  Send out a press release.  Call a news conference.  Get on top of the media.  Don’t let your opponent’s words be the spin.
4. Have a counterattack ready.  I’ve been a part of campaigns where we had the “atomic bomb” ready to go if we needed it.  Fortunately, we didn’t have to drop it.  But if you have the stomach for it, fight fire with fire.  Only make sure your attack is based in fact.
5. Sometimes, there’s no need to respond.  The attack might be so crazy that no one will believe it or the folks who do weren’t going to vote for you anyway.

Anyway, hopefully, you won’t get heartburn in the waning days of the campaign and you and your opponent will stick to the facts, the issues, and the record.

Yes, I am a sunny optimist.  But don’t let the slime stick if it does happen.

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!