COM 280T 029:  Special Topics/Political Communication

KEY ELEMENTS OF ANY POLITICAL CAMPAIGN

I.  Members of the team

            A.  Campaign Manager (the boss –even over the candidate!)

            B.  Treasurer (know the money rules)

            C.  Campaign Chair/Co-Chairs/Committee (often honorary)

            D.  Volunteers

                        1)  Get them

                        2)  Use them properly –clerical, visibility, phones, door walks

            E.  Planning the campaign (flow charts, calendars, who’s in charge)

II.  Printed Materials (brochures/flyers/hangers/etc)

            A.  Campaign Theme and Message

            B.  Pictures

            C.  Slogans

            D.  Logo

            E.  Bumper stickers, buttons, campaign stickers (sticker version of button)

III.  Polling

            A.  Uses, when to do it, what are you looking for?

            B.  Types

IV.  Volunteer Phone Banking

            A.  Use volunteers

            B.  Scripts

            C.  Demographics (who to call)

V.  Fundraising

            A.  Overall budget

            B.  Direct Mail solicitations

            C.  Special Events/Fundraisers

            D.  Candidate calls

            E.  Campaign Finance Committee

VI.  Lawn Signs/Street Signs/Billboards

            A.  Logo and General Information

            B.  Locations

            C.  Laws for location, time period, removal

VII.  Precinct Analysis and Canvassing/GOTV

            A.  Voter files and historical trends

            B.  Who are likely voters?

            C.  Map Packets

            D.  Touch the “right” voters at the right time

            E.  Door hangers

            F.  Volunteers

            G.  Phones

            H.  Last minute efforts

            I.   Poll Watching on Election Day

            J.  Don’t forget absentee, mail-in, and early voting

VIII.  Direct Mail

            A.  Persuasion

            B.  Attack mail

            C.  Language/gender/ethnic issues

            D.  Budget

IX.  Electronic Media

            A.  TV vs Radio vs Cable

            B.  Newspaper ads

            C.  Endorsement ads

            D.  Free media/letters to editors

            E.  Press releases and event coverage  (media events)

            F.  How to do your best CJ Cregg impression.  (How to take questions from the                                 press.)

X.  The Candidate

            A.  Lay of the Land (politics in the district and where your candidate fits)

            B.  Packaging the candidate

            C.  Stay on message!

            D.  No lying

            E.  Outsider vs. Incumbent

            F.  Your opponent (opposition research, packaging the opponent, drawing                                         comparisons)

XI.  The Oral Communication Skills of the Candidate

            A.  Public Speaking Skills

            B.  Debates

            C.  Fielding negative questions from press or opponents in debate

            D.  Ignore the little guys.

            E.  Thank you notes, follow-up