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The other 99% percent
Presidential candidates, most notably the Dean campaign in 2004 and McCain campaign in 2000, tend to dominate discussions of online campaigning. While Presidential campaigns are often using some of the most exciting technology, these discussions miss the vast majority of online campaigns – those on the Congressional, state and local levels.
Exempting Gubernatorial, Presidential and a few other highly publicized races, most campaigns do not benefit from the free media that drives donors, volunteers and voters to their websites.
For
In the 2004 election cycle, websites, email and online fundraising assumed a growing prominence. In each of these areas, new high marks were established in both volume and audience-reach.
However, 2004 also saw the emergence of a powerful new set of web-based tools that I have come to call Distributed Campaigning. While these second-generation Internet tools could eventually prove even more valuable than on-line fundraising, they also have the potential to inflict serious damage to a campaign.
Incumbents always have held an advantage in elections, but that advantage has now become practically insurmountable. Over 90 percent of incumbent Congressional candidates are re-elected every two years. Percentages among incumbents farther down on the ballot sometimes are even higher, as often nobody even bothers to run against incumbent State Senators, State Representatives, and City Councilmen.
It would be good for everyone, however--even supporters of these incumbents--if competitive elections were restored. Because competitive elections make all candidates, even the winners,
Studies show that contact from campaigns significantly increases a young person’s likelihood of turning out to vote on Election Day. Plus, it’s cost-efficient and easy to integrate with your overall campaign strategy.
• A door knock can boost turnout by about 8 points for about $25 per additional vote.(26)
• A live phone call increases turnout by 3-5 points for $20-26 per additional vote.(27)
• A text message increases turnout by 3-4 points and can be very inexpensive.(28)
• Multiple contacts from a campaign can increase turnout by 10-14 percentage points.(29)
Whether you are participating in a debate, at a community forum or communicating with the media, your most important objective should be to make your point clear and memorable.
The following are three simple and effective techniques to make your point clear and create sound bites and quotable statements:
1) Speaking well is not necessarily the same as writing well. When speaking, use the verbal colon to draw attention to your main point and create a sound bite.
Example:
You would write,
The important point I want to make is that de
Filing campaign statements with the State Elections Board (SEB) or any government agency can be a nerve racking and mentally exhausting experience. Having to itemize nearly every transaction, complete complicated forms and follow obscure rules make reporting a challenging job.
The frequency of reports, rapid turnaround required during election season and requirement for exact reporting makes campaign reporting scary for even the most seasoned professional accountant.
With all of that said, after working for years with many clients, we have come up with some best practices