Generals fight the last war. Campaigns fight the last election. If someone we like decides to run for President in the 2008 cycle, success depends on not doing what DFA did last time, everyone knows about that now, but to find the next generation of ideas that will mobilize and use the enthusiasm and skills supporters bring to a campaign. This needs to be done at all levels and areas of the campaign.
For today's question, let's discuss the use of volunteers as a "force multiplier" in the battle for votes in 2008 (and maybe tested on smaller campaigns in 2006).
For the 2008 cycle, the X campaign should use volunteers’ life experience as well as their time to the benefit of the campaign.
Build a database/data warehouse of volunteers, their skill sets, location, commitment level and other useful data. Databases are unique because of the ways the data can be queried that will reveal connections not otherwise obvious. The collection and compilation of a real volunteer database will result in the ability to use volunteers in ways not available in the past.
For example, here are ways to structure the use of volunteers based on different database queries:
- Geographic - having structure at the state, county, district and precinct level to the greatest extent possible
- Expertise Groups - Be able to build teams of people by expertise for task assignment, ie. Graphics artists, broadcasters, event organizers,
- "Commitment" groups - Campaign should know if volunteers can / are willing to work full time, once a week, once a month, occasionally
- Issue groups - people willing to work on/with expertise in specific issues: Defense, Economics, Education, Healthcare, etc.
By walking away from the "parts is parts" attitude of the use of volunteers prevalent in past campaigns, a candidate will be provided with not only volunteer bodies and hands but minds. Volunteer minds can replace dollars that need to be raised to buy skills with dedicated campaign workers who will provide skills and dedication to the cause. The latter can't be bought.