Each of us has more responsibility for a Democratic victory in November than we realize. Each of us will have the power to change the hearts and minds around us. As any organizer will tell you, friends most reliably turn out for friends. Even beyond our friendships, our active and passive campaigning can and will affect the outcome. Each of us will contribute to the country’s image of this movement, for good or for not.
This morning’s front page has a poll asking Kossacks how many presidential election cycles they have participated in. As of 5AM EST, a full quarter of the people here are relatively new to the process. (Having voted for president two times or less) As I assume we are all serious about seeing our candidate nominated and a Democrat elected in November, a review of the dos and don’ts of building support for your candidate may be in order. (And judging from so much written here, may be urgently needed)
Today we have three viable candidates to support. Nine months from now we will share one, God willing. Some of us will, all of us should, go out and actively campaign for our choice now and for whoever is collectively chosen in September. However, even if you don’t knock on doors or work the phones, you will no doubt wear the tee shirt and make your preference clearly known to friends, acquaintances and family. And in that way, you will become an extension and reflection of your candidate and the Democratic Party.
Good organizers have one fundamental rule; above all else, do not alienate. Campaigns are not wars or games; there are no enemies to be disarmed or points to be won. The goal is not to defeat but to persuade; and in lieu of full conversion leave no conversation having galvanized someone against what you represent. We accept some "conversions" may take longer than others. We understand that a new supporter may never join us if we badger them into never opening the door to us again. We recognize the worst damage we can do is to create an impassioned activist for the other side where there wasn’t one before.
Don’t personally attack people who don’t agree with you. This is an organizing no-brainer, but apparently bears repeating. No one responds well to sarcasm or ugly assumptions about their intelligence or character. As so much of campaigning is driven by emotion, the stupidest favor you do your opponent is to inflame passionate opposition through personal attacks. If you find yourself getting angry, leave the conversation for another day. Leave your venting for your journal or the shooting range.
Do present a positive reflection of your candidate. I’m hard pressed to imagine Barack Obama telling a Clinton supporter to just go fuck herself, under any circumstances. Look at your candidate and how they handle tough questions and attempt to do likewise. When you have that tee shirt on remember not to act like an ass in it. Tip heavily, ask politely, smile whenever possible.
Don’t bury people in facts; Do use verifiable facts and not conjectures. Unless your neighbor is a policy wonk, don’t use an organizing opportunity to show off your grasp of legislative history. Worse yet, don’t attempt to persuade using assumptions about the opposition, particularly offensive ones. You never know who has an autographed picture of Bill Clinton hanging in their dining room. If you can't prove it, don't use it.
Don’t organize with fear; do promote your candidate with positives and leave the others alone. Remember, the other candidates are of no consequence to you because you are so juiced about the person you support. People are less likely to turn out for the lesser of two evils than they are for something they can believe in. Promote your candidates strengths and go light on the other guy’s weaknesses or better yet, don’t mention them at all. If you find yourself stumbling to articulate the strengths of your candidate, spend more time practicing that with the choir and less time trading trash on the opponent. This taxing daily practice will serve you well in the long run. Wax on, wax off.
Do listen more than you speak. The most effective organizer understands the key to persuading the person before them is to better know that person and their key issues. Make no assumptions and push no talking points without knowing first which talking points will be most effective in any given conversation. The more you listen, the more you know. Have the right conversation not your strongest conversation. What drives you may mean nothing to me.
Leave no voter behind. This isn't about seizing the stage to shout down and drown out dissenting voices. It's about amassing voters, one voter at a time. Eventually that must include folks who don't know, like or trust your candidate. Learn now how to diffuse your disgust with the unenlightened and accept a broad range of perspectives.
Don’t debate. Debates have winners and losers, and losers do not join the winning side with much verve. Satisfy your thirst for debate blood by engaging a Young Republican. He or she is beyond hope.
Do organize. Invite your friends and family to become more involved. Look for ways they can uniquely contribute down at the campaign office. Ask them to go out on the doors with you for an hour, just to see what it’s like. Find ways Grandma can get involved from home. Don’t stop with their vote alone. Don't give up on them. Organize them to contribute their story, their voice, their money or a little of their time.