Running for office is a strange process, full of counterintuitive and unforgiving rules and norms. With Jeff’s help, people unfamiliar with campaigning will be in a position to figure out whether they (and their families) are suited to the undertaking, and if so, how to go about doing it effectively and economically.
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"I've Helped Underdogs WIN! This Book Can Help You Too!"
Kenneth R. Menzel
General Counsel
Illinois State Board of Elections
Campaign Lesson #8 – Campaigns MUST evolve!
I really wanted to title this piece “There’s no excuse for incompetence,” but considering the general demeanor of this always fascinating existence, it wouldn’t have narrowed the subject matter down nearly enough. Rest assured, we will be talking about how an inexplicable conscious incompetence can completely destroy a campaign. Please understand that we’re not talking…
Campaign Lesson #7 – Why provide your opponent with free advertising?
Among the array of always fascinating candidate endeavors, the one that still baffles me the most is an inexplicable capacity to “gift” opponents with all manner of free “advertising.” When you consider that, on a level electoral pitch, the contestant who secures the most “impressions” almost always wins, mentioning the opposition’s name may well be…
Campaign Lesson #6 – Messaging is paramount!
Before we proceed, let’s try to keep three things in mind, two of which are quotes from my soon-to-be bestselling book, “So You Want to Win a Local Election?” 1. “The average American voter has the attention span of an off-meds ADHD sixth grader coming off a three-day sugar and video gaming binge.” 2. “There’s…
Campaign Lesson #5 – Signature sheets are the window to your electoral soul – Part 2!
When we last left off, we were discussing how the impending 2021 consolidated election nominating paperwork, particularly those signature sheets, can reveal quite a bit about a candidate’s campaign dynamic. And if that paperwork discloses too much information, it can give an opponent a real leg up! In that very vein, here are two of…
Campaign Lesson #5 – Signature sheets are the window to your electoral soul!
I know it’s hard to believe, but while we’re all frantically focused on November third, our more enterprising municipal candidates are already circulating their 2021 consolidated election nominating paperwork. And much like eyes are the window to the soul, your signature sheets can reveal a great deal about your impending campaign dynamic. I know the…
Campaign Lesson #4 – Preaching to the political choir is patently pointless!
The above mailer that hit early last week may well be the WORST case of campaign messaging, timing, and voter targeting I’ve ever seen. As bad as some of these mailers can be, and I’ve seen some really bad ones – this kind of terrible trifecta is still somewhat rare. So why does this mailer…