It’s another Saturday, so for those who tune in, welcome to a diary discussing the Nuts & Bolts of a Democratic Campaign. If you’ve missed out, you can catch up anytime: Just visit our group or follow Nuts & Bolts Guide. Every week I try to tackle issues I’ve been asked about, and with the help of other campaign workers and notes, we discuss how to improve and build better campaigns.
Now that your candidate and campaign staff are working hard to turn out your voters, you have to really step back a second and think: when was the last time I went to my local club meeting of radical socialists? Do they even have a local agenda? These are important questions to ask because in 2019 and 2020, Republicans are going to be asking the public all about your radical socialist agenda.
Don’t have one? Didn’t realize how it would apply to your local water board or position as county clerk? Well, now is the time to brush up on your radical socialist resume, my friend. This week we’re talking about staying above the noise and actually getting things done.
What exactly is a radical socialist agenda?
To be certain, there are things that are not a radical socialist agenda. These items include but are not limited to: corporate giveaways, tax cuts, and voter suppression. Sure, there can be other items, but Republicans, unable to offer a debate on substance, will often turn to a debate by using red baiting. Do you think of yourself as a moderate Democratic candidate? You plan to run for office as a mainstream elected Democrat? Don’t worry, no matter how mainstream you are, or what position you are running for, for many voters you’ll always be a gun grabbing, pro-abortion socialist at heart. So whether you are a Sen. Warren progressive or a Gov. Bullock moderate, I can promise you, the Republican machine will enjoy hating you and your long connection to socialism all the same.
Don’t let fear bring you down
Too many candidates fret over irrational attacks. “Will this hurt me?” Ridiculous attacks around your candidate being a socialist or a radical have limited influence. Republicans who would already vote for Satan over your Democratic candidate (“At least I know who Satan would caucus with.”) will be riled up by this messaging. Too many Democratic candidates go out of their way to combat this message by trying to seem more conservative or moderate.
This is a losing strategy that will quickly get you in trouble. Candidates win by voter excitement; attacks on a candidate which seem over the top do not deter your voters. Instead, these messages and attacks make many Democratic voters angry—and that isn’t a bad thing to turn them out at the ballot box. The more ridiculous the argument is against your candidacy, the more direct your response should be.
Respond with a future perspective
Rather than become more conservative or feel cowered by ridiculous Republican attacks, it is important to address the items in your campaign you plan to address. Most voters do not believe that basic government services represent socialism. They like the idea that we have well-kept roads and bridges, a county clerk that works, a school board that cares about education, a state house that wants to help employers grow and employees find good jobs.
We rarely find voters who oppose workers compensation for harm, or are bitterly opposed to rapists going to jail. Whatever office you are running for, poke fun at the ridiculous nature around a radical agenda. The voters who will consider you will welcome your honesty—and the Republican voters who are influenced by wild attacks? I hate to break it to you: you were never, ever going to get their vote anyway.
Trying to chase a voter you can’t get can risk you bringing in the voters who want to be on your side. And that simply isn’t a strategy worth following.
Next week: Does mail actually have value?