First, you are so lucky, and I hope that you recognize that every minute, every hour of every day that you hold this opportunity. In a year when the Democratic Party had a field of several good contenders, the best is the one you represent. That fact can get lost in the minutia of your day-to-day activities, but the voters of South Carolina need to hear it again and again and again until they get it. If necessary, I hope you'll write it on a poster where you can look at it several times a day. If necessary, say it to yourself when you get out of bed in the morning, in the shower, when you drive to your assignment.
Second, I understand personally the challenges of working in a campaign, whether you're ahead or behind in the polls, in the fundraising, in the media coverage. Those challenges don't change the fact I've already stated: The best candidate running for president in 2008 is the one you work for. Regardless of where you are in polls, or in fundraising, or in media coverage, you have hundreds of opportunities a day to represent John Edwards to the voters around you.
Now, with all the affection and charity I can muster, let me offer some advice.
We all have less than two weeks to win the South Carolina primary for and with John Edwards.
There are thousands of voters in South Carolina who are willing to volunteer their time and energy to help you and John Edwards win the South Carolina primary.
When voters call you to say they would like to (fill in the blank) to help the campaign succeed, please remember that the correct answer is "yes," even if you have to say, "yes, and I'll call you right back to tell you how, or where, or who," etc.
In other words, accept the offer of aid from a potential volunteer as if you're a parched soul in the desert accepting a glass of ice water. Just say yes. Make it easy.
Saying, "I really don't think we need any more help doing that" is almost never the correct answer. Perhaps you can say instead, "YES! We'd love to have you participate in that way, but let me give you the neighborhood next door to (fill in the blank) instead of that one, because they really need your help there."
We have 12 days to make this happen, so get the fundamentals right, even if it means posting telephone numbers or correct office addresses on posters where the entire staff can see them. And, because many people live in rural areas and have to drive several miles into a city or town to volunteer, make sure you can give them clear, accurate directions to your office or event locations. And even if this is your first hour living or working in this state, it is almost never the correct answer to say, "Well, I'm sorta just getting, like, familiar with the area."
Say instead, "Yes, let me call you right back with the information you need." Then get the facts, get them fast, get them right, and return the call.
We have 12 days to make this happen, so if you're not familiar with the community, or the county, or the region, then ask someone who is from here for help. I love that young people from across the country have come to South Carolina to help John Edwards win the South Carolina primary. But -- and I say this with compassion and urgency -- this is South Carolina; it's not Iowa, not New Hampshire, not Wisconsin, not Minnesota. South Carolina is -- affectionately -- a strange and different place. Do not condescend to the people who live here, either in your words or in the tone of your voice. Maybe our accents are funny, maybe our words-per-minute are much slower than yours. But don't forget that John Edwards, the candidate we're both working to help succeed, sounds like those of us from "down here."
These may be small things, but they matter. You may get absolutely no credit for getting them right, but it hurts OUR campaign and OUR candidate when you get them wrong, and when your co-worker gets them wrong too, and others in the office get them wrong.
And maybe this is too much to ask, but if you're going to give out a mobile number rather than an office number, please be available when volunteers call. Remember that volunteers are calling to offer help. Those who have never done this before need affirmation, not impediment. If possible, get an in-state telephone number -- it doesn't have to be local, but it helps when volunteers recognize the area code as a South Carolina area code -- and make sure they can get through to you. Getting your voice mailbox repeatedly doesn't inspire first-time volunteers who have full-time jobs.
I guess the best advice is to put yourself in the shoes of the men and women who need John Edwards's help the most.
Those who have the few remaining textile manufacturing jobs in South Carolina have only limited time before their shift begins, their meal breaks and the time after their shift ends, to give to the campaign. Those who live in rural areas may only come to town -- I know, it may be a strange concept -- once or twice a week; in fact, some of them rarely get to the "big" cities where the campaign office is located. Those who are working poor may have limited transportation. These people don't have the same opportunities that you've had, traveling from state-to-state and seeing the nation. But they have a precious few hours, they have the willingness to help, they have real reasons to want John Edwards to succeed, and they can vote in this state.
We have 12 days to make this happen, so when any of these people call to offer help, be ready to say yes. If you know the fundamentals of your campaign office and plan already, you won't have to put them on hold, won't send them on wild goose chases, won't end up losing some potential help. So take the time. Know everything you can know.
Some years ago, James Carville wrote a book with his wife about running campaigns. Say what you like about Carville, but remember that he ran the last successful presidential campaign waged by a Democratic challenger to a Republican incumbent. The last time a Democrat took the Oval Office, Carville opened the door for him. And in his book, Carville said loudly, clearly, that the people to be valued most were those who volunteered their time and energies to the campaign.
Twenty years from now, when you're a political commentator on a cable news channel, reminiscing about how you stepped in to turn around a presidential campaign and single-handedly delivered a crucial primary victory in South Carolina way back in 2008, I won't say a word. Success has thousands of fathers. You can be one of many taking credit, I won't really care. In fact, after two successful terms of an Edwards Administration, I'll be happy to give you all the credit you want.
As for today, people who need John Edwards's help want to help him for every good reason. Like me, they may be calling you today to help. Before you say a word, remind yourself that you're representing a man who carries alone the hopes and dreams of millions of working-class people who don't have another candidate to count on. Remind yourself that this caller is just as vital to John's winning South Carolina as the hundred others you've already talked to today. Be ready to say yes to their offer. Make it easy.
It's easy to love John Edwards. Don't make it hard to help him win.
