Door to door campaigning. Courtesy, OU Nightly TV
As a follow-up to the election, I have talked to several candidates in Florida and other states. Here’s what I have learned:
Share a real, live smile. Voters still appreciate meeting the candidate at their front door even with the candidate standing at least 6 feet away to greet the homeowner. One candidate walked through neighborhoods canvassing over 22,000 homes and lost 30 pounds in the process.
Phone calls are not appreciated. Of the candidates I spoke to, half said they will eliminate phone calls from their future campaign strategy and focus more on ways to get in front of voters in a reach out and talk campaign.
Social media is powerful. Smiling and speaking and sharing through Facebook Live, YouTube, Instagram, and the like is the next best thing to standing at a voter’s front door. Estimates are that candidates elevate the awareness of their campaign platforms by 80% with a well thought-out social media outreach.
There’s never enough volunteers. The candidates said they follow the 4-2-1 rule with 4 volunteers saying they will show up to wave signs or staff a precinct, 2 will RSVP and only 1 will actually keep the volunteer commitment. That’s tough on candidates who have limited budgets and need volunteers versus paid campaign staff.
I could go on but I want each of you to know that while we shake our heads at the foolishness and some would say insanity of campaigns, our democracy is still the best process in the world. I wouldn’t trade places with anyone in any other country. Would you? Please let me hear from you and hats off to all those who ran…win or lose, we salute you!
LMA Newsletter of 11-30-20
