Question

Topic: Strategy

Marketing To Get A Candidate On The Ballot

Posted by Anonymous on 7/31/2008 at 11:36 PM ET 500 Points
Hi All,

My sister is collecting signatures to get a friend placed on the ballot for an election in NYC. This is a S-L-O-W process going door-to-door. They need to collect 6.000 signatures quickly. If the potential candidate is successful, he would be running against -- trying to unseat -- a longtime, quite visible, elected official. They have no money to invest, and it's a team of 2. So grassy-grassroots, effective, political marketing strategies are needed.

What would the greatest marketing brains in the country tell her to do, to get signatures quickly, avoid the endless door-knocking, and have her candidate prevail? Would particularly appreciate ideas that also raise awareness for the candidate, or cause the incumbent to be held accountable to the issues raised.

With much appreciation,

Ana-Marie
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Frank Hurtte on 7/31/2008 at 11:42 PM Accepted
    The reason most of these local elections are lost isnt based on quality of candidate or work ethic of the candidate. It comes from lack of organization. The parties generally know this. Their "machine" candidates win because they have just that - a machine.

    Your sister needs to step back and ask this question, how can we draw more people into working for the campaign. It might seem strange, but she might need to step back from grabbing names to getting others to grab names.

    Further, the rest is about free publicity. Knocking on 1000 doors isnt as good as having the press cover you knocking on 1 door seen by a million people.
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 8/1/2008 at 9:05 AM Accepted
    Instead of going door-to-door, go to events where people who are sympathetic to the candidate's issues will be: movies, plays, Central Park, the Zoo, ball games, the subway, etc. The first goal would be to attract more volunteers, then have each of them target potential candidate supporters for the ballot (at these central points). Also, identify key organizations that would likely support the candidate, and enlist the organization to volunteer to help get the candidate elected.
  • Posted on 8/1/2008 at 9:11 AM Accepted
    How about using meetup.com?

    Schedule a meetup for people interested in the issues your sister is a proponent of. Be sure to suggest they invite friends etc.

    Tweet about the meetup on twitter.com and maybe submit the event to local online event calendars. (I know villagevoice.com has one and several other "local" websites)

    Then when people come...discuss the issues, get their signatures, and invite them to become a part of the campaign and help you get more signatures.

    Just and idea.

    Kris

  • Posted by Levon on 8/1/2008 at 6:20 PM Accepted
    Social networking is key with a grassroots movement. Spreading political word over the internet is very effective in building numbers. Having a relationship with the media is an absolute must. Building Political Messages is very similar to Branding as it involves memorable statements that have to be coined and re-enforced often to generate action.
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