A lot of us, myself included, will be hitting the streets this weekend in districts outside our own. How can we avoid the "carpetbagger" charge?
Well, I ran across a posting on Challenger.net by Christine Pelosi that is so instructive in this regard, that I had to share it here. As Christine's Momma always says, "proper preparation prevents poor performance." :-)
The fundamentals are:
Think Locally: When You Go Into A Community, Know the Customs
- Sports (when is the Big Game? Don't walk or call then!)
- Faith (Friday, Shabbes or Sunday service; Wednesday prayer meeting)
- Weather (if the voter is in the storm cellar, you should be too!)
- Dress for Success (appearance matters)
Act Locally: What You Say and Do Matters
- Manners: R-E-S-P-E-C-T the voters
- Listening: Voters May Vent! (Especially Independents or Undecideds)
- Talking: Practice Your Script Before Calling or Walking
Look Up: What's on the Air
- Know the Issues
- Know what Ads Each Campaign is Running (TV, Radio, Internet)
- Listen to What People are Saying about Each Campaign
Look Down: Read and Study
- Know Your Candidate
- Know the Opposition
- Know Local Issues and Events
Look All Around: What to Know or Whom to Call When:
- You Encounter Reporters
- A Voter Needs to Know Where to Vote
- A Voter wants to VOTE EARLY in person or via absentee ballot
- A Voter Talks about Possible Fraud or Abuse of Voting Rights
Keep an Open Feedback Loop
- Volunteers: Report Back to HQ What Is (or not) Working
- Campaigns: Discuss & "Message Box" Volunteer and Voter Comments
- Remember: A Positive Attitude is Everything!
OK, I hope that helps. We all know how important this weekend is. See you out on the streets. Good luck to all of us.