Phonebanking Thoughts and Strategies

I sure hope that I am not the only one spending my Sunday making calls to Indiana. What better way to use up free minutes? We have just 10 days to go and if we win Indiana this damn primary may finally be over. Please folks...hop on those phones!!

Things are going really well, so far. I have been looking up the early voting location for people, although I am really shy about asking for their address, but no one has been weird about it. No one has asked me if Barack is a Muslim. This guy asked me a really indignant question about border security that I managed to answer really, really well (pats self on back). I said, in my best Barack Obama impression "Border security is a goal that all of us can agree on. Where we disagree with is the execution, and we have to bring a common sense approach in order to finally get things done." Anyway, I was quite proud of that one and I think that dude now leans Obama.

I just wanted to ask for other people's experiences in terms of what they usually say. I am curious because I actually wrote myself a little script that I like to follow and I wonder what other people do.

My "script" below the fold.

Here is more or less what I say:

Hi Voter! I am a volunteer for Barack Obama's campaign. I hope you have a second.

[Pause. I really, really like to do this. If they say they are on their way out, I very graciously say "Oh, it's no problem! We'll try you back later!" I find this is much better than trying to talk to an unwilling person, and they always sound greatful. If they hang up, that's fine. I didn't waste any time. If they say, "Sure!" then I know they are very open to "being converted". If they are silent, I just go on.]

Well, I am calling people in Indiana today to ask who they plan to support in the Democratic Primary. And also, if you have any questions about Barack Obama's policies or plans that I could answer, I would love to do so.

[Pause. If they support Obama, I move on to the early voting question. If they support Hillary, I admit I that just thank them for their time. If they support Mccain/are undecided, I continue]

Well, I hope you will consider supporting Barack Obama. He is the only candidate that doesn't take money from the special interests that are controlling Washington. He was the only candidate that opposed the war in Iraq, from the start, wisely saying that it was distracting us from the real threat in Afghanistan. And he is committed to strengthening our economy and the middle class. (Pause) What are some of the issues that matter to you? (I ask this only if they are nice! Otherwise I just ask again if they have any questions.)

Well, thanks for your time! I really recommend you visit BarackObama.com where you can find extensive policy ideas for just about every issues. It's a wealth of information and I hope you will check it out if any questions arise.

Have a nice day!

This script works OK, but again, it's more me talking and them listening. It's hard to say at the end of it, whether they have budged one way or another. And I don't really try to reach Hillary supporters. What would say if I tried?

What do other people find works for them?

Update:

Oh! And one last thing! Do you leave answering machine messages. What do you say??? I can't figure it out so I never leave any.

•  Tip jar!

  Please call Indiana and North Carolina. You have free minutes today!

  :)

  by jenontheshore on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 01:48:31 PM PDT

•  Great writeup

  I remember at Camp Obama being told not to leave messages because it's not worth it from a bang-for-the-buck perspective - takes too much time and doesn't buy much from undecideds.

  Also - could you indicate in your sample script where you pause?  I always had a hard time with figuring out whether I had rambled too long without letting the other person interject.

  by barath on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 02:00:21 PM PDT

  •  Sure!

    I will update with that.

    And thanks for the tip on answering machines.

    by jenontheshore on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 02:01:13 PM PDT

•  I never leave a message---unless it's election

  day and remind them to vote if they haven't already and what time polls close.  Otherwise, a waste of time.  I have seen opposing directions on this on his website---one time saying to leave a message, another time saying don't.  
   I like your little script and will steal some of your ideas.  I usually try to keep it fairly short and sweet---but take different cues from each phone call.  I often use the fact that I'm from Illinois and have followed Obama for years and explain how well respected he is here, with Dems and Repubs alike.  People seem to like the idea of ending the hateful divide and his ability to bring people together.  I also try to say that he has devoted his life to taking action which will ease the lives of regular folks---tax breaks for those that need them instead of for the wealthiest etc.  I get asked some good and some really way out there questions and just do the best I can.  I do engage Hillary supporters a bit----pointing out a few key differences----ties to corporate interests etc.----nicely---and back off quickly if it seems hopeless.  I'm going to make a few calls now.

  by dotster on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 02:14:40 PM PDT

•  I leave messages when Barack Obama tells me to

  -- in other words, where there's a button you can click on MyBO marked "Leave Message," I leave one  Here's mine (more or less):

  My name is Greg, I'm a volunteer with the Barack Obama for President campaign.  Senator Obama has been bringing a message of hope and change to [STATE].  He is the only candidate remaining who has been opposed to the Iraq War from the beginning, and who doesn't take money from lobbyists, PACs, and oil companies.  He has also shown this year that he can attract the votes of independents and moderate Republicans, as well as Democrats from across the political spectrum.  We hope that you will support Senator Obama in the upcoming [or "next week's", or "Tuesday's] primary.  If you have any questions about the Senator, the issues, or how to get involved, please call us at [number].

  To my knowledge, only one person who has heard this message (a racist who called me back and cussed me out) has failed to vote for Sen. Obama, but that may say more about my lack of follow-up than the value of the message!  It's worth a try!

  by Seneca Doane on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 02:22:02 PM PDT

•  Obama's phonebanking tool

  on his campaign website is really slick. They make it so easy to make calls.

  by Prison4Bushco on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 02:27:49 PM PDT

•  Leaving a message

  I usually do leave messages, particularly close to election day or where there's early voting and urge them to vote.  The benefit is that I've had some Barack supporters who hadn't done any volunteering in the past call back (caller id I assume) and ask what they can do to help.  Even a few more volunteers is always helpful!

  by FoxfireTX on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 02:35:30 PM PDT

•  Getting the voter engaged in discussion

  1. It's great when you can get the voter involved in discussion.  If they are undecided I usually ask them what issues are important to them.  Often it's the economy or the war.  That gives you a change to comment on Obama's policies on those.

  2. Feel free to tell them if this is the first campaign for which you've made calls (it often impresses them how deeply you feel).

  2. If the voter is interested, I tell them why I am supporting Obama (in brief) rather than giving a canned spiel. One of the issues that is easiest to describe is his judgement on the war.  How he realized in 2002 it was a terrible decision and spoke out against it (even though he was running for Senate and it was a political risk).

  It's actually not as hard as you think.  Try a few and you will start to get comfortable.  But it always takes a little push to get yourself started (although I've made hundreds of calls, I'm a little tense for the first few calls of the day).

  by ScientistSteve on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 03:11:39 PM PDT

•  Totally leave a message!!

  Messages can be really crucial.

  Basically just summarize your talking points into a short answering machine message.

  When I'm calling Indiana I refer to the poll that has Obama beating McCain there but has McCain beating Hillary...

  "Obama is the only candidate, according to the latest poll from (I just forgot where), who can beat John McCain in Indiana."

  by Elise on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 03:43:04 PM PDT