http://politicalhigh.today.com Teaching and discussing the art and science of getting elected Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:10:01 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I hate to be a whining, crying nag.  Really I do. I took a few days off after the election.  You probably did too if you were a candidate or campaign manager. But now it is time to either quit celebrating or licking your wounds.  Have you done the following? Paid your outstanding ... http://politicalhigh.today.com/2008/11/15/postelection/ Everyone talks about the election winners.  Makes sense.  They won.  They're going to courthouses, capitals, and Capitol Hill to go serve us. But the losers--seems like a harsh word--whose who did not prevail--deserve some praise and attention. Thank you for running.  You gave the voters the choice of your ideas, your experience, ... http://politicalhigh.today.com/2008/11/06/post/ Win or lose, thank you candidates for being participants in our American democracy. Just like you can't play a football or soccer game with only one team, you need opponents in elections.  Democrats, Republicans, Reform, Libertarians, Constitutional, Greens, whatever your political flavor, thank you for your personal sacrifices to be in ... http://politicalhigh.today.com/2008/11/04/thanks/ We're less than 48 hours until election day 2008 (November 4, 2008).  What should you be doing? Frankly, much like studying for a test, it's better that you went to class, kept up with your reading, and turned in your assignments on time.  You can try to cram, but hey, good ... http://politicalhigh.today.com/2008/11/02/48hours/ 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 ... http://politicalhigh.today.com/2008/11/01/madness/ It's small but it's mighty. It's the palm card. Here in South Dakota, election day palm cards aren't used much.  I was introduced to them from an East Coast organizer who I worked with on an issues campaign and he said they are part and parcel of elections there. What is a palm ... http://politicalhigh.today.com/2008/10/30/behold-and-distribute-the-palm-card/ Having volunteered for political campaigns ranging from working at Al Gore's Presidential Campaign HQ in Nashville in 2000 to volunteering for state and local candidates, I've had some very good and very bad experiences. Frankly, most candidates take their volunteers for granted.  And part of it is understandable, as candidates are ... http://politicalhigh.today.com/2008/10/29/volunteers/ 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 ... http://politicalhigh.today.com/2008/10/28/you-get-slimed-call-ghostbusters-nah-five-ways-to-deal-with-a-last-minute-attack/ 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 ... http://politicalhigh.today.com/2008/10/27/what-to-do-with-last-campaign-contributions-six-ideas/ Ideally, the political candidate has "only" three jobs: Call and talk to people to raise money. Call and talk to people (or be on TV or radio) asking them to for vote for them. Win. Most political candidates in my experience are Type As--they are control freaks.  They are usually ambitious and successful people ... http://politicalhigh.today.com/2008/10/26/the-candidates-three-jobs/